Dozens die in Syria after clash between Assad loyalists and government forces
More than 70 people have been killed in the western coastal areas of Syria and left a region outside government control, a war guardian said Friday.
The conflict broke out on Thursday and coordinated across the coast, a major escalation and challenge to the new government in Damascus, where the former insurgent promised to unite Syria after the brutal civil war.
Overnight, Damascus sent reinforcements to the coastal cities of Latakia and Taltas, as well as nearby towns and villages (the heart of a few Alaw sects in Assad and his long-term support base).
This is the worst act of violence since the overthrow of the insurgent group led by the Islamic Islamic sect Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS in early December. Since then, new authorities have said they are not allowed to collective punishment or sectarian revenge, but have carried out some sectarian attacks on a few Alaw factions.
Under Assad, the Arawites held the highest position in the Army and Security Agency. Over the past few weeks, the new administration has blamed his loyalists on his new security forces.
A large number of troops were seen in Latakia on Friday morning, and the curfew imposed in the city and other coastal areas remained in effect. Members of the security forces said there was a minor clash in one of the city’s communities, but much of Latakia was calm and under government control.
The monitor says dozens of people died
War watchdog, the Syrian Human Rights Observatory based in the United Kingdom, said 35 members of the Syrian government forces, 32 fighters loyal to Assad and four civilians were killed.
Rami Abdulrahman, head of the observatory, said the outskirts of coastal towns in Baniyas and Jableh are still under the control of Assad loyalists, as are Assad’s hometown of Qardaha and many nearby Alavi villages.
The situation was “very bad”, Kadaha residents told the Associated Press in a text message. The resident demanded not to worry about his name being made public for his safety, saying government forces opened fire with heavy machine guns in residential areas of the town.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, worried about his safety, said they had been unable to leave their home since Thursday afternoon due to the intensity of the shooting.
Gregory Waters, a colleague at the Middle East Institute, which studies the coastal areas of Syria, said he does not want FL fatigue to escalate into a continued battle between the two sides. However, he said he was concerned that this could lead to a cycle of violence between different civilian communities in the coastal areas.
Furthermore, Waters said any violations of security forces sent from Damascus to armed groups would make young Alawian men more concerned about the new government and more likely to tolerate weapons.
Abdulrahman of the Observatory said the conflict began when government forces tried to detain a wanted criminal near Japur and were ambushed by Assad loyalists.
People seek help from Russia
On Friday, dozens of people gathered outside the main Syrian air base near Japur to demand protection from Moscow. Russia joined the conflict in Syria next to Assad in 2015, despite Russia’s ties with the new authorities after its depravity. Assad has lived in Moscow since leaving Syria in December as former insurgents approached the attack from Damascus.
Asked about the outbreak of combat in coastal areas and the possible threat to the Russian army, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied: “The security of our army is at the right level.”
“I don’t know the details, I won’t comment on the operational situation,” Peskov said on a conference call with reporters.
The conflict in Syria began in March 2011 and has killed more than half a million people and displaced them.
Nabil Hawara fled to Canada after spending twenty years in the infamous prison of the infamous Assad regime in Syria, first led by Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar, who was ousted by the rebels on December 8. Hawara said that he suffered torture throughout the custody, including his lasting back throughout the custody, and his back suffered increasing injuries.
