Al-Shara's Call for 'Peace' in Syria; Katz Calls Him a 'Jihadi Terrorist'

Following the deaths of hundreds in coastal areas of Syria, Ahmad al-Shara, the interim president of Syria, called for the establishment of 'peace' on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days of clashes along the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Amid the ongoing deadly clashes between forces loyal to the Islamist rulers of Syria and Alawites residing in coastal areas, Ahmad al-Shara called for the preservation of 'national unity and internal peace.' Syrian government security sources claimed that at least 200 of al-Shara's loyal forces were killed on Thursday during clashes with forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, the former president of Syria. Following this, thousands of al-Shara supporters were dispatched to coastal areas, leading to one of the bloodiest sectarian clashes in the country in the last 13 years. Syrian government officials claimed that rogue militias supporting security forces were responsible for the extrajudicial executions of Alawites. Reuters reported, citing a security source, that clashes are still ongoing, and forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad continue their attacks against al-Shara's loyal forces and public infrastructure. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reacted on Friday to the bloody suppression of Alawites in Syria by forces loyal to Ahmad al-Shara, stating that al-Julani has now removed his mask and revealed his true face. Katz described al-Julani as 'a jihadi terrorist from the Al-Qaeda school who commits crimes against civilians.' The Israeli Defense Minister emphasized that Israel will protect itself against any threats from the Syrian government. He added that the Israeli army will remain in the buffer zones and Mount Hermon and will defend the Golan and Galilee. Katz also stated that the Israeli army will keep southern Syria civilian and free from threats and will defend the Druze population residing there. Clashes in Syria between the forces of the new rulers and the remnants of Bashar al-Assad have intensified security measures in Syria following the deadly clashes in the country.