Increased Security Measures in Syria Following Deadly Clashes

The Syrian government intensified security measures on Saturday, March 9, following deadly clashes in the country. According to human rights observers, during the recent clashes, government forces and their allies killed "more than 500 civilians" from the "Alawite" minority residing in coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea. The clashes began on Thursday with an attack by armed individuals loyal to Bashar al-Assad, the ousted president of the country, who is himself Alawite, against the forces of the new Syrian government. Residents of the area reported that government forces continue to massacre Alawite civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Saturday that 532 Alawite civilians were killed in coastal Syria and the "Latakia" mountains by security forces and their allied groups. This UK-based human rights organization stated that government forces and their supporters executed some civilians, and there were reports of looting of Alawite properties and homes. The official news agency "SANA" reported that security forces were deployed to restore order in Latakia as well as in "Jableh" and "Baniyas," south of the city. Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defense, stated that security forces successfully suppressed the attacks by Assad's supporters and regained "control" of the aforementioned areas. In a video message regarding this, he said that no individual or group should attack citizens who are in their homes. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, these clashes began following the arrest of a suspect pursued by government forces in a predominantly Alawite village. This human rights organization stated that with the dispatch of government reinforcements to these areas, "relative calm" has been established. A source from the Syrian Ministry of Defense also told SANA that soldiers blocked roads leading to coastal areas to prevent "violations" and "restore order." The Islamist group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which led the ousting of Bashar al-Assad's government, is a faction of the "al-Qaeda" organization and is still considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States. This group, which now controls the Syrian government, is attempting to unify the country by moderating some of its past views and has stated that it will protect all religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. Ahmad al-Shara, head of the new Syrian government, announced on Saturday, March 9, in response to the recent clashes in the western regions of the country that government forces will continue to "pursue the remnants of the dissolved regime and those who committed crimes against the people" in those areas. According to SANA, the head of the new Syrian government accused "gangs of the dissolved regime" of "killing" what he described as the protectors of the Syrian country and attacking hospitals and "terrorizing innocent people," stating: "We will pursue them and bring them to a fair trial." Source: Agence France-Presse.