March 09, 2025
Syria is once again gripped by violence, with reports indicating that hundreds of people, including many civilians, have been killed. Experts are calling it the worst assault since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in December.
On March 6, fighters linked to the ousted leader Assad launched a deadly attack on government forces in the coastal region of Jableh, killing at least 13 security personnel, according to authorities.
A regional security chief described the violence as a “well-planned attack” by “remnants of the Assad militias,” as reported by Reuters.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the BBC that more than 70 people have been killed so far.
For the first time, the new government forces deployed helicopters equipped with machine guns around the mountainside of the coastal region, targeting areas where Assad loyalists were positioned, The New York Times reported, citing an unnamed government official.
In response to the violence, a curfew has been imposed in the northwestern cities of Latakia and Tartous, where the fighting is ongoing.
Why Violence Has Been Simmering?
Since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad by Islamist insurgents led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Sharaa’s efforts to reunify Syria after 13 years of civil war are facing significant challenges. One of the most pressing issues is Israel’s warning that it will not tolerate HTS maintaining a presence in the southwestern region near its border.
Tensions have been especially high in the mountainous coastal region, where Syrian government forces have been heavily deployed. Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire across several cities and villages on March 6, according to Reuters.
State news agency SANA reported that security forces in Jableh had arrested Ibrahim Huwaija, a top intelligence officer under Assad’s late father, Hafez.
A Syrian defense ministry official said that security operations in the Latakia area were aimed at pursuing armed groups, including known war criminals linked to a prominent former Syrian army officer.
Authorities have imposed a curfew in the coastal city of Tartous after protests erupted. A local resident said security forces fired shots to disperse the crowds.
Earlier this week, two members of the defense ministry were killed in Latakia by groups identified by state media as remnants of pro-Assad militias.
Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in international security at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the current situation “has been unfortunately snowballing for some time.” He noted that “it was actually quite impressive that the new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa managed to keep a lid on things until now — but their bluff has been very much called.”
What To Know About The Fighters And Security Forces?
According to Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kunaifati, the chief of security for Latakia province, the attack involved several Assad-aligned militias targeting security patrols and checkpoints in the Jableh area and surrounding countryside.
Under Assad’s rule, the Syrian government heavily recruited from the Alawite community to fill key positions in the security apparatus and state bureaucracy — a structure that the new Islamist-led authorities are now attempting to reshape.
Syria’s coastal region remains the heartland of the Alawite minority and a stronghold of the Assad family, which belongs to the Alawite sect. Alawite activists report that their community has faced ongoing violence and attacks since Assad’s fall, particularly in rural Homs and Latakia.
While interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to lead Syria in an inclusive manner, no meetings have been announced between him and senior Alawite figures. This contrasts with outreach efforts toward other minority groups, including the Kurds, Christians, and Druze.
“The Alawites are not organized or united. But the spread of discontent and demonstrations against the regime will embolden militias across Syria — both those that oppose the new government and those that claim to speak in the name of the revolution,” Joshua Landis, head of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, told Reuters.
What To Know About Syria’s Interim Government?
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the rebel coalition that seized power in Syria in December, was declared the country’s interim president in January. Muhammad al-Bashir was appointed as prime minister of the caretaker government until March 1.
Sharaa was formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who led the offensive that ultimately ended Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing rule over the country.
Sharaa previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist rebel group once linked to Al Qaeda. His faction controlled most of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria during the prolonged civil war, which lasted nearly 14 years.
Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for HTS’s Military Operations Department, announced that all institutions tied to the old regime — including the 2012 constitution, the People’s Assembly, the Baath Party, and all revolutionary factions (military, political, and civil) — would be dissolved and integrated into the new state institutions.
What World Leaders And Organisations Are Saying?
Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed support for Syria’s interim government and its efforts to protect national security and stability. “Kuwait strongly condemns the crimes committed by outlaws in Syria and their targeting of security forces and state institutions,” the Kuwait News Agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry also condemned “the crimes committed by outlaw groups in Syria, including attacks on security forces and attempts to destabilize security and civil peace.” The Bahrain News Agency reported that Bahrain supports the Syrian government’s efforts to safeguard the country’s security, stability, and territorial integrity.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said he is “deeply alarmed” by reports of clashes and civilian casualties in coastal areas. “All parties should refrain from actions that could further inflame tensions, escalate conflict, increase the suffering of affected communities, destabilize Syria, and jeopardize a credible and inclusive political transition,” he said.
Syria’s Road To Recovery
Around 100 armed factions have joined Syria’s Defense Ministry, including the US-backed Syrian Free Army, which is now based in both the al-Tanf garrison and Tadmur following the fall of the Assad regime. Some of the newly appointed military officers and governorate commanders — including leaders from the Syrian National Army (SNA) and foreign fighters — have been designated as terrorists by the US government.
Economic recovery efforts have gained traction through the easing of sanctions and increased diplomatic engagements. According to The Washington Institute, the new government held 330 diplomatic meetings between the fall of the Assad regime and February 11, laying the groundwork for rebuilding Syria’s economy.
The US, which has designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a terrorist organization, had previously offered a $10 million bounty for Sharaa’s capture.
Washington has also eased some restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria, while the European Union announced this week that it would lift certain sanctions.
Earlier this week, Syria’s foreign minister told the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new government is committed to destroying any remaining chemical stockpiles produced under Assad. The Assad government had been accused of carrying out dozens of chemical attacks during the 14-year civil war.
