Over 1,000 killed in Syria as clashes between security forces and Assad loyalists escalate

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Syria over two days of violent clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, followed by revenge killings targeting the Alawite minority. Fighting erupted when government forces attempted to detain a wanted individual near Jableh but were ambushed by armed groups supporting Assad. The violence spread rapidly, leading to mass killings, looting, and destruction in Latakia and surrounding areas.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 745 civilians were killed, mostly in close-range shootings, along with 125 government security personnel and 148 militants aligned with Assad. Witnesses described brutal executions, with gunmen checking victims’ identification before shooting them. In the town of Baniyas, bodies were left on the streets and rooftops as gunmen blocked attempts to bury them. Some reports detailed women being paraded naked before being shot. Thousands of Alawites have fled their homes, seeking safety in mountains and at Russia’s Hmeimim airbase.

Latakia province has suffered widespread disruptions, with electricity and drinking water cut off in several Alawite-majority areas. Residents reported homes being looted and burned. A Lebanese politician, Haidar Nasser, stated that Alawites fleeing to Lebanon fear for their lives. “The international community should protect Alawites, who are Syrian citizens loyal to their country,” he said. The new government in Damascus, which took power three months ago, has accused remnants of Assad’s forces of orchestrating the attacks against security personnel.

The government announced that it has regained control of most areas affected by the clashes and has closed all roads leading to the coastal region to restore order. France condemned the killings, calling them “atrocities committed against civilians on religious grounds.” In Tuwaym, the bodies of 31 victims, including nine children and four women, were buried in a mass grave on Saturday morning. The Observatory’s chief, Rami Abdurrahman, described the killings as “one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict.”

The situation remains tense as thousands of displaced residents struggle to find safety. Reports indicate that Alawites have faced repeated targeting since the fall of Assad’s government, with many fired from jobs or attacked despite reconciling with new authorities. The full extent of casualties and destruction continues to unfold as the government tightens security measures across the region.