In one of the deadliest confrontations since Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell, at least 15 security personnel lost their lives in a series of ambushes in Syria’s coastal Latakia province, according to security sources.
The attacks took place on Thursday near Jableh, a town in the rural parts of Latakia—a region known as a stronghold for Syria’s Alawite community, which has close ties to the Assad family. A Syrian security official speaking to Al Jazeera confirmed the casualties, noting that the personnel were targeted in “various armed ambushes.” He added, “The Syrian state will enforce its authority on any groups operating outside the law and will not tolerate threats to our security.”
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These incidents have heightened concerns about the security conditions along Syria’s coast, an area that has become increasingly volatile since Assad was deposed three months ago. In response, the central government has deployed reinforcements, sending dozens of military vehicles from Hama, Homs, and Idlib to Latakia in an effort to restore order.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Damascus reported that tensions remain extremely high, describing the ambushes as one of the new government’s most significant security challenges since the fall of Assad’s regime.
Shortly after the attacks, a video emerged showing an Assad-era commander declaring the formation of a resistance group called the “Coastal Shield Regiment.” Allegedly loyal to former special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan, the group has vowed to oppose the new government.
Government Response and Security Measures
Authorities in Latakia claim that they have regained control after heavy clashes with the armed groups, with officials reporting that several attackers have been killed and many more captured. As a precaution, a curfew has been imposed in the nearby coastal city of Tartous, where fears of further violence persist.
This unrest presents a major challenge for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose administration is striving to consolidate power across Syria following Assad’s removal. The Mediterranean coastal areas, long considered bastions of Assad loyalism, remain among the toughest regions for the new leadership to stabilize.
