Syrian Coast Tense After Wave of Violence Leaves Over 1,000 Dead
Gunfire erupted at dawn on Friday in the coastal town of al-Haffa, Syria, signaling the latest surge in violence that has ravaged the country’s Mediterranean coast over the past four days, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths, according to the war monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This is the deadliest spate of hostilities since rebels overthrew longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, in a bid to control the nation fragmented by 14 years of civil war.
Early on Friday, local resident Wala, 29, vividly described the terror of being awoken by gunshots, only to witness from her window a harrowing scene of people fleeing for their lives while being chased and then shot by men in forest green uniforms. Within moments, four of those fleeing lay lifeless. "I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was terrified, terrified," said Wala, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
The ongoing violence intensified on Thursday following an ambush by Assad loyalists on government security forces in Latakia Province, where al-Haffa is situated. This sparked days-long clashes between Assad loyalists and government forces. The Observatory, citing early Sunday figures, reported approximately 700 civilians among the dead, with most attributed to government forces. Al-Haffa alone saw at least 65 civilian casualties, according to these reports.
However, claims of atrocities committed by the new government are denied, with a commitment to investigate and hold accountable any parties involved in harming civilians.
The unrest has not only stoked fear but also raised the specter of a larger sectarian conflict. The coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of Syria’s Alawite minority, which include the Assad family, are increasingly tense. The Alawites are among the predominant victim group in this new wave of violence, according to the Observatory.
In Tartus, attempts to cordon off the region have been evident, with checkpoints and a virtual shutdown of activity as residents fear their safety amidst the chaos. Shadi Ahmed Khodar, an Alawite and local resident, expressed concern over being mistaken as an Assad loyalist by forces of the new government.
The violence has also prompted rural communities in Latakia Province to form armed groups to protect themselves after reports of security forces targeting civilians. In Baniyas, a predominantly Alawite town, residents described a terrifying ordeal of braving gunfire and losing neighbors, with at least 60 civilians, including children, reportedly killed.
Wala’s grim account included a chilling incident where her home was raided by security personnel, leading to a harrowing experience that left her and her family fearing for their lives. Later, risking their safety to assist wounded men outside, Wala found a scene of desperation, a plea for water from one man shot in the thigh lending a human face to the mounting death toll. By Saturday evening, the outcome for the men she encountered remained uncertain amidst the continuing gunfire.
As the situation in Syria’s coastal regions remains precarious, the humanitarian toll mounts, with civilians caught in the crossfire from various factions vying for control, each day bringing fresh accounts of violence and despair.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/world/middleeast/syria-violence.html
