200+ Killed in Syria Clashes Between Govt and Assad Loyalists

The fighting erupted Thursday and continued through Friday, as government forces attempted to detain a wanted individual near the coastal city of Jableh and were ambushed by Assad loyalists, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In response, gunmen affiliated with the new government stormed villages along Syria’s coast, killing at least 140 people, including many men, in apparent revenge attacks. The casualties also included at least 50 government soldiers and 45 Assad loyalists.

The ongoing violence has intensified sectarian tensions, particularly in coastal areas where Assad’s Alawite supporters remain in control. The most severe assaults took place in the villages of Sheer, Mukhtariyeh, and Haffah, where at least 69 men were killed, according to the observatory. Other reports suggest more than 30 were killed in Mukhtariyeh alone, and an additional 60 people, including women and children, were slain in the town of Baniyas.

Syrian authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but a security official quoted by state news agency SANA described the violence as retaliatory actions from locals seeking revenge for recent attacks on government forces. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has called for all armed groups loyal to the former government to disarm and urged those loyal to the new government to refrain from targeting civilians or mistreating prisoners.

In the wake of the violence, reinforcements from Damascus have been deployed to the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus, key Alawite strongholds. A curfew remains in place, particularly in areas with a heavy Alawite population. Syria’s new government has blamed Assad loyalists for ongoing attacks against its security forces but has pledged not to engage in collective punishment or sectarian retaliation.

The violence is a direct challenge to the new government’s ability to unify the country after 14 years of civil war. As of Friday, Jableh, Baniyas, and other nearby villages remain under the control of Assad loyalists. Some residents of the coastal town of Qardaha, Assad’s hometown, reported intense fighting, with government forces using heavy machine guns in residential areas, preventing people from leaving their homes.

Experts warn that these clashes could escalate into sustained sectarian violence, further destabilizing Syria. Gregory Waters of the Middle East Institute noted that while he does not foresee a full-scale civil war, the recent violence risks creating a cycle of revenge and mistrust among local communities.

In Damascus, crowds gathered in Umayyad Square to show support for the new government, with some blaming the remnants of the Assad regime for the violence. “We’ve had enough of wars and tragedies,” said retiree Mazen Abdelmajeed, adding, “We are all one Syrian people.”

However, the violence raises serious security concerns for the new government, according to Qutaiba Idlbi, a research fellow at the Atlantic Council. He warned that the unrest could embolden armed groups opposed to the government and reveal its difficulty in addressing multiple security threats across the country.

Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Jableh, several hundred people gathered outside Russia’s air base, seeking Moscow’s protection. Russia, which has supported Assad’s regime since 2015, now maintains ties with Syria’s new government. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for de-escalation and reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Turkey also weighed in, warning that the ongoing clashes could undermine efforts to stabilize Syria. “At this critical juncture, the targeting of security forces could threaten Syria’s path toward unity and solidarity,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli.

As Syria’s civil war continues to evolve, the recent violence underscores the challenges the new government faces in maintaining control, fostering unity, and preventing further bloodshed.