A total of 48 people were killed in clashes between Syrian security forces and pro-Assad fighters on Thursday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad ambushed and killed 16 police personnel. The response from security forces led to clashes that left 28 pro-Assad fighters and four civilians dead, stated the London-based SOHR. They called it “the most violent attacks against the new authorities since Assad was toppled.”

The incident took place around the town of Jableh, in the coastal province of Latakia — the heartland of Syria’s Alawite minority, of which Assad is a member. SOHR reported that security forces used helicopter gunships to fire on the ambushers, which reportedly included fighters loyal to former Syrian army General Suheil al-Hassan. State-run news agency SANA said that security forces arrested former senior intelligence official Ibrahim Hweiji, believed to be responsible for organizing the assassination of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Joumblatt in 1977.

Following the attacks, large numbers of military reinforcements were deployed to the area and overnight curfews were imposed on Alawite-populated areas, including Tartus and Homs. Tensions in the Alawite stronghold regions have been rising as Sunni militants carry out attacks on the formerly dominant group. The government has warned against collective punishment or sectarian violence and stated they would go after those responsible for the violations.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/syria-sees-worst-day-of-violence-since-ouster-of-assad/a-71852125?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf