End of Syria's military operation against Assad loyalists

Monday 10 March 2025 - 14:02

By: Zahouani Ilham

End of Syria's military operation against Assad loyalists

Syria’s government declared the conclusion of a military operation in the western coastal region, home to loyalists of former leader Bashar al-Assad, according to the Ministry of Defence in Damascus.

Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson, confirmed the operation's end on Monday, stating that the security threats in Latakia and Tartous provinces had been neutralized. The operation was prompted by deadly violence that left thousands dead, including numerous civilians, raising international alarm. “With the neutralization of these security threats, we announce the end of the military operation,” Ghani said. “We successfully repelled attacks from the remnants of the fallen regime and its officers, securing vital areas.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nearly 1,500 people have died in the violence since Thursday, mostly civilians killed by security forces and allied groups in the Alawite heartland, where Assad’s support base resides. This report has yet to be verified by Al Jazeera. In response to the violence, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), vowed to bring those responsible for the clashes to justice and announced the formation of an independent committee to investigate the violence.

Ghani stated that Syrian security forces would fully cooperate with the committee, providing access to all relevant information in order to establish the facts and ensure justice. He added that the forces had disrupted the regime’s remaining officers, securing key roads and vital centers.

Despite initial calm after Assad’s fall in December, instability and violence are escalating across Syria. Security forces reported repelling an attack on a checkpoint in Damascus, where two attackers were apprehended while attempting to target a government building. Other attackers managed to flee.