In Syria, fierce fighting has erupted between groups supporting the new rulers and fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad. This violence marks the worst unrest in Syria since the rebels removed Assad from power in December and established an Islamist transitional government.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in the UK, reports that over 70 people have lost their lives due to the clashes. In response to the violence, authorities have imposed a curfew in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous.
The conflict began when government forces were ambushed during a security operation in Latakia, a stronghold for the Assad family and the Alawite community. Reinforcements were quickly sent in, and videos online captured intense gunfire in various locations.
Reports about the number of casualties fluctuate, and verification of these figures has been challenging. A news agency reported that government-aligned forces killed around 70 former regime fighters and captured more than 25 in the Jableh area. Clashes have also spread to Homs and Aleppo, with heavy gunfire echoing in residential neighborhoods.
Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson for Syria’s defense ministry, issued a stern message to Assad loyalists. He emphasized that many had chosen to surrender rather than continue fighting. “Lay down your weapons or face your inevitable fate,” he warned.
The ongoing violence poses a significant security challenge for interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Reports from Alawite activists indicate that their community has faced violence since Assad’s ousting, especially in rural areas like Homs and Latakia. Additionally, there have been clashes with Druze forces in the south.
This week, Syria’s foreign minister reassured the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new government intends to eliminate any remaining chemical stockpiles created during Assad’s regime. Despite denials from Assad’s government regarding the use of chemical weapons during the 14-year civil war, activists have reported numerous chemical attacks throughout the conflict.
