In a shocking escalation of violence, at least 16 members of Syria’s security forces were killed in clashes with militants loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday. The deadly encounter marks one of the most intense confrontations since Syria’s new interim government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, took power.
The clashes occurred in the coastal Jableh region, an area that has long been a stronghold for Assad’s Alawite sect, to which his family belongs. The fighting between forces loyal to the new Damascus administration and Assad’s supporters has highlighted the growing instability in Syria, especially in regions that were once tightly controlled by the ousted regime.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, confirmed that the attack in Jableh and its surrounding areas resulted in the deaths of 16 security personnel. These deaths came after a series of ambushes and attacks by gunmen affiliated with the remnants of Assad’s regime. According to the Observatory, this incident marks the deadliest attack on the new Syrian government since Assad was toppled in recent months.
“This is the most violent attack against the new administration since Assad’s regime was brought down,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “The situation in Jableh is tense, and the local security forces are stretched thin.”
The fighting in Jableh highlights the deep challenges facing Syria’s new government. The region, which forms part of the coastal heartland of the Alawite sect, has emerged as a significant security threat. With the fall of Assad’s regime, loyalist militias have intensified their efforts to resist the new leadership.
The violence in Jableh is part of a broader pattern of resistance from Assad’s loyalists, many of whom are still active in the country. These remnants of Assad’s forces continue to operate from various locations, undermining the efforts of Syria’s new government to establish stability and control.
Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that “remnants of Assad’s militias” coordinated their attacks across multiple locations, suggesting that the militias are organised and determined in their efforts to disrupt the current administration. SANA added that reinforcements were en route to Jableh to assist the security forces in dealing with the escalating violence.
“The remnants of Assad’s militias have shown that they are far from being defeated,” said an anonymous military official, speaking to SANA. “We are committed to wiping out these elements who are trying to destabilise the country.”
This coordinated attack follows an earlier incident in which two members of Syria’s defence ministry were killed by groups identified as Assad militia remnants in the city of Latakia. These violent events indicate that the coastal region, which was historically a stronghold of Assad’s power, is now a focal point for clashes between loyalist forces and the new government.
Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took office after the fall of Assad, is facing significant challenges as he works to consolidate control over the country. The Jableh region, along with other areas once loyal to Assad, remains a hotspot for violent clashes. Despite the victory over Assad’s regime, the new government is struggling to assert full control, especially in regions where loyalists continue to maintain influence.
