Fri Mar 07 13:25:53 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Clashes Rock Syria’s Alawite Stronghold

**Latakia, Syria** – Days of intense fighting between Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to deposed President Bashar al-Assad have left over 70 people dead in the country’s Alawite heartland, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence, centered in Latakia and Tartous provinces, has shaken the interim government’s efforts to establish control.

The clashes erupted on Thursday, with authorities claiming a well-planned attack by remnants of the al-Assad regime on security forces and military sites. While Latakia’s police chief declared the city secured on Friday afternoon, fighting continued in other areas, particularly around Banias. Government forces deployed reinforcements and imposed a curfew in Latakia and Tartous.

The death toll, which includes security forces, gunmen, and civilians, remains unverified by Al Jazeera. However, the intensity of the fighting prompted a warning from neighboring Turkey against further provocations that could destabilize the region.

The violence has raised concerns among Alawite activists, who allege ongoing persecution since al-Assad’s fall. A statement from the Alawite Islamic Council blamed the government, accusing it of using the pretext of targeting regime loyalists to terrorize and kill civilians and calling for UN protection of the coastal region. This claim stands in contrast to the interim government’s assertion that al-Assad loyalists are responsible for recent attacks.

The situation underscores the fragility of the interim government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is struggling to secure international recognition, lift US sanctions, and manage broader security challenges, including issues in the southwest bordering Israel. While al-Sharaa has pledged an inclusive government, notably, meetings with senior Alawite figures haven’t been reported, unlike with other minority groups. The Alawite community, previously dominant under al-Assad, now finds itself embroiled in a conflict that threatens its security and its relationship with the new government.

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