FLASH
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The fiercest fighting since the fall of Bashar al-Assad has erupted in Syria's coastal region, where forces allied with the new Islamist government are clashing with fighters loyal to the former president.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 70 people have been killed in the violent clashes. The fighting has included the port cities of Latakia and Tartous, where authorities have declared a curfew.
The clashes began when government forces were ambushed during a security operation in Latakia. Heavy reinforcements have been sent to the area, while videos posted online show heavy gunfire in several neighborhoods.
The coastal region, known as a stronghold of the Assad family and the heart of the Alawite minority, has become the epicenter of recent clashes. According to local media reports, forces affiliated with the new Syrian government have killed about 70 former regime fighters, while more than 25 others have been captured in Jableh and surrounding areas.
Clashes have also been reported in the cities of Homs and Aleppo, where unverified footage has circulated on social media showing the crackling of weapons in residential areas of Homs.
A spokesman for the Syrian Defense Ministry, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, warned Assad loyalists fighting in Latakia via state media:
"Thousands have chosen to lay down their arms and return to their families, while some insist on fleeing and dying in defense of murderers and criminals. The choice is clear: lay down your arms or face your inevitable fate."
The coastal region has become a major security challenge for interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Alawite activists report that their community has faced ongoing violence and attacks since Assad's fall, particularly in Homs and rural Latakia.
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