In a dramatic surge of violence, Syria’s newly established ruling forces have clashed with loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad along the country’s picturesque coastline. This escalation marks the most severe outbreak of conflict since the fall of Assad in December, when an Islamist transitional government was put in place. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that over 70 individuals have lost their lives in these confrontations.
Curfews and rising tensions in major cities
In response to the violence, curfews have been enacted in the cities of Homs, Latakia, and Tartous, where intense fighting has erupted. BBC Verify has authenticated the locations of two videos circulating online, depicting gunmen firing relentlessly at a structure in Homs, resulting in a blaze. Additional verified footage shows a body being dragged through the streets of Latakia. This coastal region is deeply intertwined with the Alawite minority, the sect to which the Assad family belongs, making the situation particularly volatile.
Casualty reports and community fears
Estimates of casualties vary widely, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirming the deaths of 71 individuals, including 35 government troops, 32 fighters associated with the former regime, and four civilians. Numerous others have sustained injuries, according to the human rights group.
Attacks have been characterized as well-organized ambushes against military checkpoints and installations, according to observers. One Sunni civilian witness described the assault as “planned and prepared,” while another lamented the indiscriminate gunfire that targeted all, including emergency responders, as reminiscent of the previous Assad regime’s brutality. “They did not have any mercy, so we are against any violence against anyone in the Syrian coast who has not been involved in this unrest. All of them are civilians and they are all like our family,” they expressed.
An Alawite resident voiced concerns over the pervasive fear gripping the population, stating, “everyone is terrified from the current incitement,” fearing they might become “scapegoats” amidst the turmoil.
As local fighters consolidate control over military zones, they have fortified themselves in the Latakia mountains, launching assaults from these positions, while others have taken refuge in the city of Jableh. Reports indicate that remnants of the former regime’s forces are now present in various coastal towns and villages, leading to ambushes against military convoys on highways.
On Thursday night, the Step news agency reported that government-aligned forces had purportedly killed about 70 former regime fighters, with more than 25 captured in Jableh and nearby areas. In a statement through state media, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a defense ministry spokesperson, issued a stark ultimatum to Assad loyalists contending in Latakia: “Thousands have chosen to surrender their weapons and return to their families, while some insist on fleeing and dying in defense of murderers and criminals. The choice is clear: lay down your weapons or face your inevitable fate.”
The ongoing conflict poses a significant security challenge for interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Alawite activists have reported an uptick in violence and attacks against their communities since Assad’s fall, particularly in rural areas of Homs and Latakia. Meanwhile, the government is also grappling with resistance in the south, where clashes with Druze forces have been reported.
Earlier this week, Syria’s foreign minister informed the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new administration remains committed to dismantling any remaining stockpiles produced during the Assad regime. While the Assad government has consistently denied utilizing chemical weapons throughout the protracted 14-year civil war, activists have accused it of orchestrating numerous chemical assaults during the conflict.