Syrian security forces on Friday battled for a second day to crush a nascent insurgency by fighters from Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect, with scores reported killed as the Islamist-led government faced its biggest challenge.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 130 people had been killed in two days of violence in the coastal region of western Syria, which is heavily populated by members of the Alawite minority.
The Observatory and two Alawite activists said the casualties included no fewer than two dozen male residents of the Alawite town of Al Mukhtareyah, who were killed by gunmen on Friday, citing contacts in the region and video footage from the scene.
Syrian authorities disclosed that the violence began when remnants loyal to the ousted leader, Assad, launched a deadly and well-planned attack on their forces on Thursday.
The violence has reportedly shaken interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate control as his administration struggles to get U.S. sanctions lifted and grapples with wider security challenges, notably in the southwest, where Israel has said it will prevent Damascus from deploying forces.
Syrians, however, took to the streets to rally in support of the government in Damascus and other cities, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both allies of the government, also signaled their backing.
Russia, which was a major backer of Assad but has sought to build ties with the new government, said it was alarmed by the deterioration in the security situation and called on all respected leaders of the country to stop the bloodshed.
Leave a Reply