Heavy fighting has broken out between security forces of Syria’s new government and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad in a coastal region of the country. This marks the most severe violence in Syria since rebels overthrew Assad in December and established an Islamist interim administration. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 70 casualties in the conflict. Curfews have been enforced in Latakia and Tartous, the cities where the confrontations erupted.
Verification by BBC confirms the authenticity of online videos showing armed individuals firing at a building in Homs, causing a fire, as well as footage of a body being dragged behind a vehicle in Latakia. The coastal area in question is the traditional stronghold of the Alawite minority, to which the Assad family belongs.
Estimates of the death toll vary, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stating that 71 people were killed, including government forces, former regime loyalists, and civilians. Numerous others were reportedly wounded in the clashes. Gunmen, some affiliated with the previous regime, allegedly ambushed military personnel, checkpoints, and bases along the coast.
Witnesses described the attacks as planned and indiscriminate, reminiscent of the violence under the previous Assad government. Alawite and Sunni civilians expressed concern over the escalating unrest, emphasizing the need to avoid violence against innocent individuals.
The ongoing conflict presents a significant challenge for interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, particularly as security issues persist in various regions. The government has issued warnings to those still loyal to Assad, urging them to surrender or face dire consequences.
The situation remains fluid, with tensions rising and fears of further violence escalating across the country.
In a determined effort to eliminate all existing caches of chemical weapons believed to have been manufactured under the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, international forces have intensified their operations. Despite assertions from Assad’s government that they never deployed chemical weapons throughout the 14-year civil conflict, activists have issued allegations of numerous chemical attacks attributed to the regime.
