On March 6, armed supporters of Bashar al-Assad ambushed security forces in Syria’s Lattakia, leading to multiple fatalities and retaliatory strikes. The emergence of the Military Council for the Liberation of Syria has exacerbated tensions. With significant civilian casualties reported, the transition authorities face hurdles restoring stability, grappling with divisions among armed groups and minority distrust.
On March 6, an armed group loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad ambushed security forces in Beit Ana village, Lattakia, resulting in casualties. Following this assault, the attackers targeted an ambulance. In retaliation, security forces conducted artillery and helicopter strikes in Beit Ana, initiating a series of violence in Lattakia and Tartus as Assad loyalists aimed to reclaim control, leading to extrajudicial killings primarily affecting the Alawite community across multiple locations over four days.
The clashes were spurred by the establishment of the Military Council for the Liberation of Syria, led by Brigadier General Ghiath Dalla of the Assad regime’s 4th Armored Division. This group intends to rid the region of what they term “terrorist forces,” referring to the transitional authorities. Clashes between Assad loyalists and the new regime are not unprecedented, with numerous incidents reported since the Assad regime’s downfall in December 2024.
Syria’s transitional authorities face immense challenges in unifying a fragmented nation composed of diverse armed factions, including Islamist fighters and remnants of the Syrian National Army. These groups display a particular resentment towards the Alawite community due to its association with the ousted Assad regime. The rapid integration of these factions into the new security apparatus has been disorganized, further compounded by the interests of former regime commanders in perpetuating instability to evade accountability for past crimes.
The total number of civilian casualties remains uncertain, but the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported 803 victims of extrajudicial killings between March 6 and 10. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated casualties as high as 1,093, making this violence comparably deadly to previous significant offensives during the war.
Despite the recent escalation, temporary cessation of hostilities has been observed. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced the establishment of a committee to investigate the extrajudicial killings, promising accountability for those responsible. Efforts are also underway to deploy more organized security forces to the region to restore order. The transitional government faces considerable distrust from minority communities, potentially paving the way for further insurgency.
Recent agreements with minority groups and a constitutional declaration signed by al-Sharaa aim to address concerns among these communities. While the Military Council for the Liberation of Syria may not mobilize extensively again, the recent attacks indicate that resistance cells may remain active, posing ongoing challenges to the transitional authorities amid interests from regional powers to destabilize the situation further.
The recent violence in Syria’s coastal region underscores the intricate challenges confronting the transitional authorities as they navigate a politically fragmented landscape following years of civil strife. With civilian casualties rising dramatically and underlying tensions within minority communities evident, the path toward stability remains precarious. Efforts to foster unity and investigate human rights violations illustrate a commitment to accountability, yet the potential for further unrest persists due to the presence of dormant anti-government factions and external influences that seek to exploit the situation.
Original Source: acleddata.com
