Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded in violent clashes between Syrian security forces and supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad, marking the deadliest unrest since Syria’s transitional government took power.
Fighting erupted Thursday in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartous, historically strongholds of Assad’s Alawite base, where sectarian tensions have escalated over the past three months.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported Friday that more than 225 people have been killed since the violence began, including at least 125 civilians. The organization accused government forces of conducting “widespread field executions” of young men and adult males, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
The Syrian government has acknowledged the deaths of at least 150 security personnel, with 300 more captured, according to a statement provided to CNN.
In response, an emergency committee has been established to monitor violations, and authorities pledged to hold accountable any forces who exceeded operational orders, according to the state-run news agency SANA. A Syrian security official attributed the violence to “large, unorganized crowds” moving toward the conflict zones.
The Assad family, members of the Alawite minority, ruled Syria for over five decades before Assad’s removal late last year by Sunni Islamist militants seeking to restructure the country’s political and sectarian landscape. While many Alawite fighters have surrendered their weapons since December, others have resisted, fueling continued clashes.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, condemned the attacks in a televised address Friday, vowing to bring those responsible for security personnel deaths to justice. He also urged restraint, cautioning security forces against excessive force following reports of high civilian casualties.
Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Hassan Abdel Ghani issued a warning to Assad loyalists: “Do not become fuel for a lost war. The choice is clear: surrender your weapons or face your inevitable fate.”
Anas Khattab, head of Syrian intelligence, accused former military and security leaders linked to Assad’s defunct regime of orchestrating the violence. “This treacherous operation has claimed the lives of dozens of our finest men in the army, security, and police,” he said.
Social media footage shared since Thursday depicts widespread casualties, showing both security forces and civilians killed. One verified video showed bodies lying near a police vehicle, while another, geolocated to a village near al-Jinderiyah, displayed women mourning over the bodies of at least 20 men who appeared to have been executed.
Security forces clashed with armed groups in multiple locations, including Al-Qardaha, Assad’s hometown. Footage showed government forces advancing into the city amid heavy explosions and plumes of smoke. Another video from the Jableh region, near the Russian airbase at Hmeimim, showed clashes and helicopters dropping improvised bombs.
As the violence spread, the Syrian Interior Ministry imposed a curfew in Tartous and warned civilians to avoid military zones. The Health Ministry reported that six hospitals in rural Latakia and Tartous were attacked Thursday night by pro-Assad elements, resulting in multiple deaths.
Saudi Arabia, a key supporter of Syria’s transitional government, condemned what it called “crimes committed by outlaw groups.”
The clashes have triggered protests across Syria, with both pro- and anti-government demonstrators taking to the streets. Observers warn that the escalating violence could threaten the stability of the country’s fragile post-Assad transition.
CNN
