- Over 70 fatalities reported in 24-hour coastal clashes
- Assad loyalists retain control of strategic towns near Latakia
- Heavy machine gun fire reported in residential zones
- Conflict triggered by failed security operation near Jableh
- Qardaha residents describe humanitarian crisis conditions
The Syrian government deployed armored divisions to coastal provinces Friday following the deadliest outbreak of violence since Bashar al-Assad's ouster. Local sources confirm at least 71 combatants and civilians perished in fighting that has left multiple Alawite-majority towns outside Damascus' control.
Residents of Qardaha, Assad's ancestral home, reported sustained artillery exchanges between rival factions. They're using anti-aircraft guns against apartment buildings,disclosed one witness via encrypted messaging, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights verified these accounts, noting concentrated clashes near Baniyas.
This escalation highlights three critical developments:
- Security vacuum in former regime strongholds
- Reemergence of sectarian militias despite HTS oversight
- Strategic importance of Tartus port infrastructure
Regional analysts suggest the violence stems from unresolved power structures following December's leadership change. While HTS publicly condemns sectarian retaliation, Alawite communities report increased property seizures and arbitrary detentions. The UN estimates 12,000 civilians have fled coastal areas since Thursday.
Military strategists note the Latakia corridor's significance for Russian naval operations, with recent clashes occurring within 40km of critical supply routes. This development complicates peacekeeping efforts led by Turkish and Iranian mediators attempting to prevent full-scale civil war recurrence.
