In the wake of intense conflict in the western coastal region, the Syrian defense ministry has stated that it has successfully neutralized loyalists of the former regime, with over 1,500 fatalities reported, including many civilians.
**Syria Completes Military Operation Amid Severe Sectarian Violence**
**Syria Completes Military Operation Amid Severe Sectarian Violence**
Syria's defense ministry announces the conclusion of a military operation targeting Assad loyalists, amidst escalating violence and significant casualties.
The article text:
Syria's defense ministry has declared the completion of a military operation in its western coastal region, following a surge of violence that reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths. According to a ministry spokesperson, security forces have "neutralized" supporters of former president Bashar al-Assad across multiple towns in Latakia and Tartous provinces, working to restore normalcy in the area.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, estimates that more than 1,500 individuals have lost their lives since Thursday, with 1,068 of those being civilians. The violence was reportedly incited by gunmen allied with the Sunni Islamist-led government, who executed revenge attacks against members of Assad's minority Alawite sect after the assassination of security personnel in an ambush.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the violence, asserting that the responsible parties would face justice. "We must guarantee accountability for the oppressed, and I will not allow any bloodshed to remain unpunished, even among our own allies," he remarked.
This recent surge in hostilities marks the most severe conflict in Syria since the rebel offensive that ousted Assad in December, which culminated a decade-long civil war claiming the lives of over 600,000 and displacing approximately 12 million. Following immense violence toward the Alawite community, Sharaa vowed to foster stability and security in the coastal area and committed to ensuring that due process prevails.
Defense ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani declared that the operation in Latakia and Tartous had concluded with all objectives met to restore order and stability. He confirmed that public institutions are poised to restart operations and emphasized an ongoing commitment to allow the investigative committee full access to verify facts related to the violence.
As Sharaa acknowledged significant violations during the unrest, he expressed urgency in delivering justice and underscored that Syria remains a state of law where transgressions, including those by his allies, cannot be overlooked.
In response to a growing insurgency by Assad loyalists, the government initiated the military operation in Latakia, a region crucial to the Alawite community, which has historically supported the former regime. The violence intensified following a security patrol that was ambushed while attempting to apprehend a high-profile Assad official.
Eyewitness reports describe a harrowing scene of disorder and brutality, with accounts of residents being targeted in their homes. Many Alawite families, fearing for their safety, have sought refuge in neighboring Lebanon as violence escalates.
Human rights advocate Volker Türk from the UN expressed alarm over ongoing reports of mass killings, including entire families, and demanded action from Syria's interim leadership to safeguard civilians and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
The death toll from the recent conflict continues to rise, and while state news agencies report on mass graves and increasing violence, independent verification remains challenging amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Syria's defense ministry has declared the completion of a military operation in its western coastal region, following a surge of violence that reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths. According to a ministry spokesperson, security forces have "neutralized" supporters of former president Bashar al-Assad across multiple towns in Latakia and Tartous provinces, working to restore normalcy in the area.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, estimates that more than 1,500 individuals have lost their lives since Thursday, with 1,068 of those being civilians. The violence was reportedly incited by gunmen allied with the Sunni Islamist-led government, who executed revenge attacks against members of Assad's minority Alawite sect after the assassination of security personnel in an ambush.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the violence, asserting that the responsible parties would face justice. "We must guarantee accountability for the oppressed, and I will not allow any bloodshed to remain unpunished, even among our own allies," he remarked.
This recent surge in hostilities marks the most severe conflict in Syria since the rebel offensive that ousted Assad in December, which culminated a decade-long civil war claiming the lives of over 600,000 and displacing approximately 12 million. Following immense violence toward the Alawite community, Sharaa vowed to foster stability and security in the coastal area and committed to ensuring that due process prevails.
Defense ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani declared that the operation in Latakia and Tartous had concluded with all objectives met to restore order and stability. He confirmed that public institutions are poised to restart operations and emphasized an ongoing commitment to allow the investigative committee full access to verify facts related to the violence.
As Sharaa acknowledged significant violations during the unrest, he expressed urgency in delivering justice and underscored that Syria remains a state of law where transgressions, including those by his allies, cannot be overlooked.
In response to a growing insurgency by Assad loyalists, the government initiated the military operation in Latakia, a region crucial to the Alawite community, which has historically supported the former regime. The violence intensified following a security patrol that was ambushed while attempting to apprehend a high-profile Assad official.
Eyewitness reports describe a harrowing scene of disorder and brutality, with accounts of residents being targeted in their homes. Many Alawite families, fearing for their safety, have sought refuge in neighboring Lebanon as violence escalates.
Human rights advocate Volker Türk from the UN expressed alarm over ongoing reports of mass killings, including entire families, and demanded action from Syria's interim leadership to safeguard civilians and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
The death toll from the recent conflict continues to rise, and while state news agencies report on mass graves and increasing violence, independent verification remains challenging amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria.
