Mon Mar 10 16:33:29 UTC 2025: ## Over 1,000 Killed in Syria as Military Operation Concludes
**Dubai, March 10, 2025** – A Syrian military operation targeting loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad has concluded, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, according to the Syrian Defence Ministry and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The two days of intense fighting, the deadliest since former rebels seized power three months ago, took place in Assad’s coastal heartland and involved clashes between Assad loyalists and the new Islamist rulers under Muhammad al-Jolani (Ahmed al-) Sharaa and his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.
The violence, which largely targeted the Alawite minority sect, has raised serious concerns about the stability of the country. The Syrian Observatory reported that at least 745 civilians, 125 security forces, and 148 Assad loyalists were among the casualties. The Defence Ministry spokesperson, Hassan Abdul Ghany, stated that public institutions are resuming operations and that plans are underway to eliminate any remaining threats.
Mr. Jolani has pledged an investigation into the violence and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. An independent committee will be formed to investigate the killings committed by both sides, with the security forces cooperating fully. The fighting escalated after the new Islamist government began cracking down on an insurgency within Assad’s Alawite community, triggering revenge killings.
Assad’s overthrow in December initially brought relative calm, but recent violence underscores the challenges facing the new government as it attempts to unify a fractured nation amidst regional tensions. Turkish-backed groups continue to clash with Kurdish forces, while Israel has conducted strikes on Syrian military sites.
First Piper 