The Syrian Ministry of Defense has announced the completion of its military operation in the western coastal region of the country, following days of intense fighting that has left over 1,000 civilians dead. According to Hassan Abdul Ghani, the ministry’s spokesperson, security forces have successfully dealt with armed groups loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad in several cities in the Latakia and Tartus provinces. The government is now working to restore normal life to the affected areas.
However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been monitoring the conflict in Syria for over a decade, reports that the violence has resulted in more than 1,540 deaths in the Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs provinces since Thursday, March 6. Of these, 1,068 were civilians. The new pro-government armed groups in Syria have been accused of massacring minority Alawite villagers, who share the same sect as Assad, in revenge for an ambush on a military patrol on March 6.
Syrian acting President Ahmed al-Shara acknowledged on Monday, March 10, that there had been widespread violence following the clashes and promised to establish an independent committee to investigate the reports of mass killings. He vowed that those responsible would be punished, regardless of their affiliation. Meanwhile, Ghanir assured that security forces would fully cooperate with the investigation.
This latest outbreak of violence is the worst in Syria since the armed forces led by Shara stormed the capital in December 2020, ending the 13-year civil war that had claimed the lives of over 600,000 people and displaced more than 12 million. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
The Syrian government’s claims of restoring order and stability to the region have been met with skepticism by many, given the long history of violence and human rights abuses in the country. As the investigation into the mass killings gets underway, the international community will be watching closely to see if those responsible are held accountable and if the Syrian government takes concrete steps to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
According to reports from the BBC, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has been documenting the conflict in Syria since its inception and has consistently reported on human rights abuses and violence committed by all parties involved. The organization’s reports have been widely cited by international media and human rights groups, and its work has been instrumental in bringing attention to the plight of Syrian civilians caught in the crossfire.
