The death toll from two days of intense clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad, followed by a wave of retaliatory killings, has surpassed 1,000, including nearly 750 civilians, according to a war monitoring organization. The latest surge in violence marks one of the bloodiest escalations since the Syrian conflict began 14 years ago.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based watchdog, reported that among the casualties were 745 civilians, 125 members of government security forces, and 148 militants affiliated with Assad’s loyalist factions.
As violence engulfed the coastal region, large parts of Latakia experienced severe disruptions, with electricity and drinking water supplies being cut off and many bakeries shutting down.
Major Escalation Following Assad’s Ouster
The conflict erupted on Thursday, just three months after insurgents overthrew Assad, posing a significant challenge to the new administration in Damascus. The government claimed it was responding to attacks from Assad’s remaining forces while attributing the widespread bloodshed to isolated actions by individuals.
However, the violence intensified when Sunni Muslim gunmen supporting the new government launched retaliatory attacks on members of Assad’s Alawite sect on Friday, a move seen as a severe blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)– the faction that led Assad’s overthrow.
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Residents Describe Mass Executions and Looting
Eyewitnesses from Alawite-majority towns told the Associated Press about brutal killings where gunmen shot Alawite men in the streets or at their doorsteps. Many homes were ransacked and set ablaze, forcing thousands to flee into the mountains.
Residents of Baniyas, one of the hardest-hit towns, recounted the grim aftermath, with bodies lying uncollected in the streets and inside homes. Gunmen allegedly prevented civilians from retrieving the corpses of their slain neighbors for hours.
Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old resident of Baniyas, described the horror as he fled:
“It was very, very bad. Bodies were on the streets,” he said, speaking from a town 12 miles away from Baniyas.
Sheha claimed that gunmen, some of whom were foreign fighters, randomly fired at homes and residents, checking identities before executing victims based on their sect.
Massacre of Alawite Civilians
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 428 Alawite civilians were killed in the revenge attacks, alongside 120 pro-Assad fighters and 89 security personnel. The group’s director, Rami Abdurrahman, emphasized the scale of the bloodshed, stating:
“This was one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict.”
The latest figures represent a sharp increase from the previous estimate of 200 dead, while Syrian authorities have yet to release official numbers.
Government Regains Control Amid Continued Violence
On Saturday, the Defense Ministry, quoted by Syria’s state news agency, claimed that security forces had regained control of key areas previously overrun by Assad loyalists. Roads leading to the coastal region were sealed off to prevent further attacks, as authorities attempted to restore order.
Meanwhile, mass burials took place. In Tuwaym, a central village, 31 victims- including nine children and four women– were laid to rest in a mass grave.
The violence reportedly began when government forces attempted to arrest a suspect near Jableh, only to be ambushed by Assad loyalists, triggering the bloodshed.
With tensions still high and thousands displaced, Syria faces another grim chapter of sectarian strife, even after the fall of its former ruler.