Syria’s interim authorities has despatched reinforcements to coastal cities within the nation’s northwest the place safety forces have been engaged in heavy battles with fighters loyal to former ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The violence, which has reportedly killed a whole bunch of individuals, together with many civilians, presents probably the most severe problem but to new authorities’s authority because it took energy following al-Assad’s elimination in December 2024.
Safety forces on Saturday stated that they had regained management of a lot of the areas in Tartous and Latakia governorates, the place al-Assad loyalists carried out co-ordinated assaults at checkpoints, safety convoys and army positions on Thursday.
Syria’s state information company SANA quoted an unidentified safety official as saying that after the assaults, quite a few individuals went to the coastal areas searching for revenge for the assault on authorities safety forces. The official stated the actions “led to some particular person violations and we’re engaged on cease them”.
A curfew stays in impact in Latakia and different coastal areas which can be predominantly dwelling to al-Assad’s minority Alawite sect and make up his longtime base of assist. Amid the continuing combating, dozens of civilians and members of the previous regime and their households have taken shelter on the Russian Khmeimim base within the Latakia countryside.
In his first public feedback because the surge in violence, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday referred to as on the fighters to put down their weapons and give up “earlier than it’s too late”.
Al-Sharaa, who commanded the opposition forces that eliminated al-Assad after practically 14 years of warfare, stated authorities forces would “pursue the remnants of the fallen regime” and convey them “to a good court docket”.
Reporting from the capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar stated the depth of the clashes had considerably decreased by Saturday afternoon however added that there have been nonetheless skirmishes within the outskirts of cities.
He added a “tragedy” was rising because of the rising loss of life toll. “A whole bunch of individuals have been killed and the vast majority of them are civilians,” Serdar added.
On Friday evening, Hasan Abdel-Ghani, spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defence, informed Al Jazeera that fighters loyal the day gone by had attacked safety forces in a number of locations in Latakia and Tartous governorates, killing “quite a few safety forces” in what he described as well-planned operations.
In the meantime, the UN Particular Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen stated he was “deeply alarmed” by the developments.
“Whereas the scenario stays fluid and we’re nonetheless figuring out the exact details, there may be clearly a direct want for restraint from all events, and full respect for the safety of civilians in accordance with worldwide legislation,” Pedersen stated in a press release.
“All events ought to chorus from actions that would additional inflame tensions, escalate battle, exacerbate the struggling of affected communities, destabilize Syria, and jeopardise a reputable and inclusive political transition.”
‘Snowballing for a while’
The violence shakes al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate management amid ongoing Western sanctions and safety challenges, together with the presence of Israeli troops within the nation’s southwest.
Talking to Al Jazeera, Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in worldwide safety at King’s Faculty London, stated the present scenario “has been sadly snowballing for a while”.
“It was truly fairly spectacular that the brand new authorities beneath Ahmed al-Sharaa has managed to maintain a lid on issues till now – however their bluff has been very a lot referred to as,” he stated.
“[The transitional authorities] now want to reply, they should reply decisively, they should present that they’re those in cost, however additionally they want to take action with out alienating the Alawites.”
He added an absence of “reconciliation” for the myriad abuses dedicated by numerous teams throughout al-Assad’s rule has not but been addressed, main some to take issues into their very own palms.
