Bashar al-Assad may be gearing up to create an Alawite statelet along Syria’s coastal mountains. And he has the means to do it.

Haven’t checked counter-views. But assertions are:

1. Assad has been preparing by clearing threatening Sunni pockets in and around Alawite homeland. 
2. He can preserve and use chemical weapons to protect that mini Alawite state (deterrence)

Viability of such mini-state might not be very promising - but it is a scenario.