At least 70 people were killed and numerous others injured in overnight clashes between the new authorities in Syria and gunmen loyal to the former dictator Bashar al-Assad, according to a war monitor. These clashes in Latakia and Tartous provinces, both of which have been strongholds for Mr. al-Assad along Syria’s Mediterranean coast, occurred after 16 security personnel were killed by Assad loyalists. This attack represents the deadliest assault on Syria’s new security forces to date.
Protesters in Latakia and Tartous took to the streets demanding that government forces withdraw from the countryside – the first large-scale demonstrations against the new authorities since they assumed power in December. The government responded by deploying more security forces late Thursday night to restore order, with government convoys patrolling the roads and residents advised to remain indoors during “combing operations” against armed remnants of the Assad regime.
Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Defense, stated that thousands have surrendered and returned to their families, while others continue to fight. He emphasized that those who resist will face their inevitable fate. This situation presents a significant challenge to Syria’s new Islamist transitional government, which has been attempting to consolidate control, especially in the coastal provinces, the heartland of the Alawite minority.
The new government has urged all members of Mr. al-Assad’s security forces to surrender and has established reconciliation centers for them to do so, although not offering blanket amnesty. The skirmishes are believed to have been sparked by an operation to arrest an official from the Assad government in the Latakia countryside, where at least 16 security personnel were killed.
The clashes led to a fleeing of villagers and widespread artillery and machine-gun fire. Protests subsequently erupted in major cities across Syria, with some supporting the government and others demanding its forces withdraw. A curfew was imposed in several cities from 10 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday. By Friday morning, few people were seen outside in Tartous and Latakia as security convoys patrolled the streets.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/middleeast/syria-clashes-assad.html
