New Wave of Violence in Syria; Government Forces Clash with Militias Linked to Bashar al-Assad

Clashes between Syrian security and military forces and the 'remnants' of the overthrown Bashar al-Assad regime continue, with the new Syrian government facing its biggest crisis since taking power. Syrian state television confirmed the death of at least 13 security personnel in the clashes in the city of 'Jableh' in Latakia province. According to a security official in Latakia, an ambush by 'remnants of Bashar al-Assad's militias' resulted in numerous casualties among security forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, reported at least 16 security personnel, four civilians, and 28 loyalist militants killed in the ambush in Jableh; this figure has not been independently verified. Rami Abdulrahman, the director of this center, described the armed individuals who ambushed police forces as 'Alawite' and referred to these clashes as 'the worst since the fall of the Assad regime.' Mustafa Kani Fati, head of security in Latakia province, also confirmed that militias loyal to Bashar al-Assad have frequently targeted security patrols and checkpoints in the Jableh area. Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's Iran-backed government, tensions have escalated between the new Syrian rulers and the Alawite sect that supported the previous regime. Alawites claim they have been the target of violence and attacks during this period. Recent violence has occurred in the area known as the 'Coast,' which includes the provinces of Latakia and Tartus. Officials of the new Syrian government have described these clashes as an 'isolated incident' and promised to apprehend those responsible. Meanwhile, state news agency SANA and Al-Arabiya reported that security forces arrested General Ibrahim Huwaijeh, head of intelligence in Bashar al-Assad's government, in the city of Jableh. According to SANA, Ibrahim Huwaijeh is accused of orchestrating the assassination of hundreds of Bashar al-Assad's opponents during the previous regime. Ibrahim Huwaijeh was head of Syrian Air Force intelligence from 1987 to 2002 and is also said to have overseen the assassination of Kamal Jumblatt, the leader of the Druze in Lebanon, in 1977. Walid Jumblatt, the son and successor of Kamal Jumblatt, shared the news of Huwaijeh's arrest on the social media platform X. The assets of these entities had previously been frozen due to 'the Assad regime's use of them to finance the repression of the Syrian people.' Last month, the European Union eased restrictions on the Central Bank of Syria but maintained other sanctions. The United States has also kept its sanctions against the Central Bank of Syria in place. The British Foreign Office announced that on Thursday, it released the assets of the Central Bank of Syria and 23 other entities, including several banks and oil companies. Rebels led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham launched surprise attacks in northwestern Syria on December 7 of this year and ended Bashar al-Assad's rule with their entry into Damascus on December 18.