Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has urged for peace following intense clashes that have left more than 1,000 people dead, marking one of the deadliest episodes in Syria since the 2013 chemical weapons attack.
The violence erupted as loyalists of deposed president Bashar al-Assad engaged in fierce battles against security forces of Syria’s new Islamist rulers. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, most of the casualties are civilians from Assad’s Alawite sect.
Deadliest Fighting in Years
The clashes have continued for four days in Syria’s coastal provinces, particularly around Latakia, Jabla, and Baniyas. Security forces are conducting operations in the surrounding mountainous regions, where an estimated 5,000 pro-Assad insurgents are believed to be hiding.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after Assad’s ouster in December, called for national unity in a video statement recorded at a mosque in his childhood neighborhood of Mazzah, Damascus.
“We must preserve national unity and domestic peace. We can live together. Syria has the resilience to survive these challenges,” Sharaa stated.
Background: Assad’s Fall and the Islamist Takeover
Assad was overthrown in December 2024 after years of civil war, fleeing to Russia while his government collapsed. His departure ended decades of rule by his family, whose grip on power was marked by repression and conflict.
Rebels led by the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the government, forming an interim administration and assuming command of Syria’s armed forces. Since then, the new leadership has faced growing resistance from Assad loyalists, particularly in the Alawite-dominated coastal areas.
Rising Death Toll and Sectarian Tensions
The recent outbreak of violence is among the deadliest since Assad’s departure. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 1,000 people have been killed, including:
- 745 civilians, many of them Alawite women and children
- 125 members of Syria’s security forces
- 148 fighters loyal to Assad
This death toll is among the highest in Syria since the 2013 chemical attack in Damascus, which killed around 1,400 people.
International Reactions and Growing Instability
The European Union, which has engaged with Sharaa’s interim government, condemned the violence and urged all parties to avoid further escalation.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that pro-Assad insurgents have staged hit-and-run attacks on key infrastructure, including:
- A power station, cutting electricity in parts of Latakia province
- A water pumping station, disrupting supplies
- Several fuel depots, affecting energy distribution
Security forces have reinforced their presence in the region, setting up additional checkpoints in Latakia and sending reinforcements to the mountainous areas where insurgents have taken refuge.
What’s Next for Syria?
With continued insurgent attacks and rising sectarian tensions, Syria’s fragile new leadership faces an uphill battle to stabilize the country. While Sharaa’s calls for unity stress optimism, the ongoing violence suggests that the conflict is far from over.
