Syrian forces wage deadly clashes with militants linked to al-Assad’s ousted regime

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that 28 fighters “loyal” to ousted President Bashar al-Assad were killed by security forces in fighting in the Latakia province town of Jableh and in nearby villages, some of the worst violence the new government has faced since toppling him in December.

Syria TV, which is aligned with the new Damascus administration, said the clashes were continuing in the Jableh region, part of the coastal area which forms the heartland of the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs.

SANA also said that security forces in Latakia “announced a curfew” until 10:00am (0700 GMT) on Friday.

The coastal region has emerged as one of the main security challenges for President Ahmed al-Sharaa as his government works to consolidate control.

Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing a defense ministry source, said “remnants of al-Assad’s militias” had attacked in several areas in a unified way. Reinforcements were on their way to the Jableh area to support security forces, it said.

Earlier this week, two members of the defense ministry were killed in the city of Latakia by groups identified by state media as al-Assad militia remnants.