Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for national unity and peace following violent clashes in coastal Syria that have reportedly left over 1,000 people dead. This marks the worst outbreak of violence since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad. The clashes, which began on Thursday, erupted between new security forces and loyalists of the former government in the Alawite heartland along the Mediterranean coast, a region historically tied to Assad’s minority sect.
The conflict has escalated into the most significant challenge to the new government’s authority since Sharaa’s coalition ousted Assad in December. Speaking from a mosque in Damascus, Sharaa emphasized the importance of unity, stating, “We must preserve national unity and civil peace as much as possible, and, God willing, we will be able to live together in this country.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, 745 Alawite civilians were killed in Latakia and Tartus provinces. The deaths were reportedly the result of “executions” carried out by security personnel or pro-government fighters, accompanied by the looting of homes and properties. The fighting has also claimed the lives of 125 security force members and 148 pro-Assad fighters, bringing the total death toll to 1,018.
The official SANA news agency reported that security forces have been deployed to Latakia, Jableh, and Baniyas to restore order. Samir Haidar, a 67-year-old resident of Baniyas, told AFP that two of his brothers and his niece were killed by “armed groups” that entered homes, adding that there were “foreigners among them.” Haidar, an Alawite himself, was part of the leftist opposition to the Assad regime and was imprisoned for over a decade during their rule.
Defence Ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani stated that security forces had “reimposed control” over areas attacked by Assad loyalists. He warned, “It is strictly forbidden to approach any home or attack anyone inside their homes,” in a video shared by SANA.
Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri announced that schools in Latakia and Tartus provinces would remain closed on Sunday and Monday due to “unstable security conditions.” SANA also reported a power outage across Latakia province caused by attacks on the grid by Assad loyalists.
The violence reportedly began after the arrest of a wanted suspect in a predominantly Alawite village. The Observatory noted a “relative return to calm” on Saturday as security forces deployed reinforcements. A defence ministry source told SANA that troops had blocked roads to the coast to prevent “violations,” without specifying the perpetrators.
Latakia province security director Mustafa Kneifati assured, “We will not allow for sedition or the targeting of any component of the Syrian people.” Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive that toppled Assad, has roots in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda and is designated a terrorist organization by several governments, including the United States. Since its victory, HTS has moderated its rhetoric and pledged to protect Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities.
The Alawite heartland has been gripped by fear of reprisals for the Assad family’s brutal rule, which included widespread torture and disappearances. Social media has been flooded with posts documenting the killings of Alawite civilians, including women and children. The Observatory and activists have shared footage showing dozens of bodies in civilian clothing piled outside homes, with blood stains and grieving women nearby. Other videos appear to show men in military attire shooting people at close range, though AFP could not independently verify these images.
Leaders of Syria’s three main Christian churches and the spiritual leader of the Druze minority have issued statements calling for an end to the violence. Military reinforcements from northern Syria are reportedly heading to Latakia to combat Assad loyalists.
Aron Lund of the Century International think tank described the violence as “a bad omen,” noting that the new government lacks the tools, incentives, and local support base to address the grievances of disgruntled Alawites. “All they have is repressive power, and a lot of that… is made up of jihadist zealots who think Alawites are enemies of God,” he said. The situation remains tense as the new government struggles to maintain control and prevent further bloodshed.
