Over 1,000 Killed in Two Days of Clashes in Syria’s Coastal Region: War Monitor

BEIRUT – More than 1,000 people have been killed in two days of violent clashes between gunmen and security forces linked to Syria’s new Islamist rulers and fighters loyal to the Alawite sect of Bashar al-Assad in the country’s coastal region, a war monitor reported on Saturday.

The casualties include 745 civilians, 125 members of the Syrian security forces, and 148 pro-Assad fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. However, Reuters has not been able to independently verify these reports.

Rami Abdulrahman, head of the observatory, described the violence in the towns of Jableh, Baniyas, and surrounding areas in Syria’s Alawite heartland as the worst the country has witnessed in years of civil conflict. The victims reportedly include women and children from the Alawite minority, he added.

The new ruling authority initiated a crackdown on Thursday, claiming it was responding to what it described as a nascent insurgency, following deadly ambushes by militants linked to former president Assad’s government. Heavy clashes have led to the death of several dozen security forces, a Syrian security official stated.

Officials have acknowledged violations during the operation, which they attribute to unorganized civilians and fighters trying to support security forces or take advantage of the chaos to commit crimes.

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A defense ministry source confirmed on Saturday that all roads leading to the coast had been blocked to prevent violations and restore order, with security forces deployed in the streets of coastal cities. An emergency committee has been set up to monitor violations and send violators to military court.

The scale of the violence, including reports of execution-style killings of dozens of Alawite men in one village, has raised further concerns about the Islamist ruling authority’s ability to govern in an inclusive manner. This is particularly troubling to Western and Arab capitals, who have expressed concern over the sectarian nature of the conflict.

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Sharaa, backed the crackdown in a televised address on Friday but stressed that security forces should avoid excessive responses. “What differentiates us from our enemy is our commitment to our values,” he stated, urging that civilians and captives should not be mistreated.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN MOURNING

Social media in Syria has been flooded with images and obituaries of victims from the coastal area, with families mourning their losses. Abdulrahman, a prominent critic of the Assad regime, stated, “This is not about being pro or against the former Assad regime. These are sectarian massacres that aim to expel the Alawite population from their homes.”

As violence continued, thousands of Alawites and Christians reportedly fled their homes, fearing for their safety. Many sought refuge at the Russian Mediterranean military base in Hmeimim, Latakia, with some women, children, and elders among those escaping the bloodshed.

Despite efforts by the defense ministry and internal security agency to restore order, reports of killings, looting, and burning of homes continued in Baniyas and surrounding villages, according to local sources.

The tragic developments in Syria’s coastal region have further complicated the country’s already volatile situation, highlighting the sectarian divisions that continue to fuel violence years after the start of the civil war.