- Intense Fighting Between Syrian Forces and Assad Loyalists
- Curfew Imposed in Latakia and Tartous
- Casualties and Injuries from Clashes
Forces supporting Syria’s new leaders have fought heavily against fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad in the coastal area of Syria.
This is the worst fighting Syria has seen since rebels removed Assad from power in December and created an Islamist government.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that over 70 people have been killed in the fighting.
A curfew has been set in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous, where the fighting took place. The violence started when government forces were attacked during a security operation in Latakia.
More troops have been sent to the area, and videos online show heavy gunfire.
The coastal region is the main area of the Alawite minority, the group to which the Assad family belongs.
The exact number of people killed is not clear, as the BBC has not been able to confirm the information.
The Syrian Observatory said 71 people were killed, including 35 government soldiers, 32 gunmen from the old regime’s army, and 4 civilians.
Many others were injured in the clashes, the group said.
Gunmen, some from the former regime, attacked military forces and checkpoints along the coast.
Local gunmen have taken control of military areas, hiding in the Latakia mountains to launch attacks, as well as in Jableh city.
Soldiers from the old regime have been sent to several coastal towns, and military forces have been ambushed on highways.
On Thursday, the Step news agency reported that government forces had killed about 70 former regime fighters and captured more than 25 others in Jableh.
There have also been reports of fighting in Homs and Aleppo.
Videos on social media show heavy gunfire in the streets of Homs, but these have not been verified.
Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani from Syria’s defense ministry warned Assad’s supporters in Latakia on state TV: “Thousands have chosen to give up their weapons and return to their families, while others choose to fight for criminals. The choice is clear: lay down your weapons or face your fate.”
The region has become a big security problem for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Alawite activists say their community has faced violence since Assad’s fall, especially in rural Homs and Latakia.
Sharaa is also facing resistance in the south, where there have been recent clashes with Druze forces.
Earlier this week, Syria’s foreign minister told the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new government plans to destroy any chemical weapons left from Assad’s time.
Assad’s government has denied ever using chemical weapons during the 14-year civil war, although activists have accused it of carrying out several chemical attacks.
