Clashes between Syrian security forces and remnants of the Assad regime have killed 13 officers in the deadliest attack against the country’s new authorities since the dictator’s overthrow.
In the coastal town of Jableh and Latakia province, armed men attacked checkpoints and security personnel as part of a “premeditated” assault on Thursday. The fighting began at around 2pm and was accompanied by gunfire, artillery, and mortar strikes.
The conflict is part of a series of sporadic clashes between the new government and former Assad militias since rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled the dictator in December. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 people were killed fighting in Deraa, south Syria.
The new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has launched “combing” operations to capture Assad-affiliated officers. Those who surrender their arms are offered clemency, but war crimes suspects face arrest.
The former regime relied on a network of militias to enforce its control during the 14-year civil war. These groups have been driven underground, making it difficult for Syria’s new rulers to dismantle the old military forces entirely.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/06/thirteen-syrian-security-officers-killed-in-clashes-with-assad-loyalists