In one of the most violent incidents since Bashar al-Assad’s downfall, at least 15 security personnel lost their lives in a series of ambushes in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia, as per security sources.
The attacks took place on Thursday near Jableh, a town in Latakia’s countryside, known as a stronghold of Syria’s Alawite minority, to which the Assad family belongs.
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A Syrian security official confirmed to Al Jazeera that the forces were ambushed in multiple coordinated attacks.
“The Syrian state will enforce its authority on all groups acting outside the law and will not allow security to be compromised,” the official stated.
Growing Tensions in Coastal Syria
These assaults have heightened fears regarding the stability of Syria’s coastal regions, which have become increasingly volatile following Assad’s removal three months ago. In response, the central government has dispatched reinforcements, deploying military vehicles from Hama, Homs, and Idlib to Latakia to restore order.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Damascus highlighted the severity of the situation, calling it one of the most significant security challenges for the new administration since Assad’s fall.
Shortly after the attacks, a video surfaced featuring a former Assad-era military commander declaring the establishment of a resistance group called the “Coastal Shield Regiment.” This faction, reportedly loyal to ex-Syrian special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan, has pledged to resist the new government.
Government Crackdown and Security Measures
Authorities in Latakia claim to have regained control of the situation after engaging in intense clashes with the armed groups. Officials reported that several attackers were killed, and many others were taken into custody.
As a preventive measure, the government has also imposed a curfew in Tartous, another coastal city, amid fears of further violence.
The unrest presents a major obstacle for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose administration has been striving to stabilize Syria following Assad’s ousting. The Mediterranean coastal regions, traditionally loyal to Assad, are proving to be some of the toughest areas for the new government to secure.
