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Western Syria clashes (March 2025–present)

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March 2025 Western Syria clashes
Part of the Western Syria clashes (December 2024–present) in the Syrian civil war
Syrian Civil War map (ISW-CTP).svg

Assadist insurgency in coastal regions.
Date6 March 2025–present[2][b]
Location
Latakia and Tartus governorates, Syria
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Syria Syrian Arab Republic[a]
Commanders and leaders
Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa
Syria Murhaf Abu Qasra
Syria Ali Noureddine al-Naasan
Syria Ali Keda
Syria Mustafa Kneifati
Syria Hassan Soufan
Syria Anas al-Ayrout		 Ba'athist Syria Ghiath Suleiman Dallah
Ba'athist Syria Muqdad Fatiha
Ba'athist Syria Ibrahim Huweija (POW)[5]
Units involved
 Ba'athist Syria Military Council for the Liberation of Syria[6]
Syrian Popular Resistance[6]
Ba'athist Syria Coastal Shield Brigade[10][11]
Strength
Syria Mi-24 attack helicopters[7][quantify] Ba'athist Syria 5,000 insurgents (Latakia governor's claim)[12]
Casualties and losses
Syria 273 killed (per SOHR)[13]
Syria 211 killed (per SNHR)[14]		 Ba'athist Syria 259 killed (per SOHR)[13]

1,659 civilians killed (per SOHR)[15]

823 civilians killed (SNHR estimate)[14]

March 2025 Western Syria clashes refers to a phase of the ongoing Assad loyalist insurgency in Western Syria, which significantly escalated after large-scale attacks by pro-Assad insurgents on 6 March 2025. The attacks started at the town of Jableh near the city of Latakia, where a "large and coordinated" ambush by Assad loyalist insurgents took place.[16]

The assaults, which were launched by Assadist militant groups loyal to Ba'athist military commanders Suhayl al-Hasan, Ghiath Suleiman Dallah and Muqdad Fatiha, targeted government buildings, checkpoints, hospitals and medical facilities.[6][17][18] On 6 March, Assadist insurgents briefly seized control of suburbs of Jableh, Baniyas and villages surrounding Assad family's hometown of Qardaha.[19][20] Nearly 400 Syrian security personnel and dozens of civilians were killed in the attacks by pro-Assad insurgent groups across Western Syria.[17]

Mustafa Kneifati, a security official in the Syrian transitional government, described the assaults as "a well-planned and premeditated" onslaught launched by Assad regime remnants and stated that there were numerous killed and injured among government forces.[21][22] Syrian government responded by sending re-inforcements to the coastal cities and announcing curfews in Latakia and Tartous regions.[23][24][25] In the subsequent counter-insurgency operations, Syrian security forces expelled Assadist militants from the suburbs of Jableh, Baniyas and re-established control of major roadways in coastal region.[26][27][23]

Background

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Main article: Western Syria clashes (December 2024–present)

After the implementation of a transitional government under then-Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham emir Ahmed al-Sharaa, clashes arose between government forces and pro-Assad loyalist holdouts, particularly in regions with significant Alawite populations.[28] Human rights organizations also reported numerous sectarian attacks targeting primarily Alawite civilians in the region, carried out by unidentified gunmen, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.[29]

There were many fires in forested areas of Latakia province, with the transitional government blaming seventeen on sabotage acts by "remnants" (rump state) of the Assad regime.[30]

Timeline

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6 March

[edit]

On 6 March, armed remnants of the former Assad regime launched a series of coordinated attacks against security forces in the cities of Jableh, Baniyas and the surrounding areas. Insurgents overran several positions. According to SNHR, upwards of 75% of the city of Baniyas was captured by remnants of the former Assad regime in this assault.[14] SOHR said that 48 people were killed in clashes in Jableh. At least 10 members of the security forces were captured by pro-Assad gunmen in Qardaha, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.[31] Latakia's provincial director said that an armed pro-Assad group, affiliated with Suhayl al-Hasan (nicknamed "The Tiger") and which included the newly-formed Military Council for the Liberation of Syria, conducted an attack in the city.[32] Helicopters of the Syrian Air Force conducted airstrikes in the village of Beit Ana in response to this attack. Clashes in the village resulted in one security force member killed and two wounded. Alawite leaders called for peaceful protests in response to the air strikes.[11][32]

At about 2 p.m., a co-ordinated series of attacks were carried out by the Assadist insurrection. There was an ambush in Jableh, near the city of Latakia, that killed at least 16 security personnel and four civilians, with dozens of fighters loyal to Assad killed or wounded in the clashes, in what SOHR called "the worst clashes since the fall of the regime".

To quell the rebellion, Syrian interim government authorities sent in reinforcements to western Syria. including tanks and armoured vehicles.[31] The Syrian Minister of Defense mobilized government military forces to "break the back of the remnants of the regime and make them an example to anyone who dares to tamper with the country's security."[33] Latakia's Director of Public Security mobilized a full security response to the province.[33] The official Military Operations Management Telegram channel initially urged for popular participation in heading to coastal Syria to "support our brothers", before stating that additional support was no longer needed.[33]

Thousands of fighters from Islamist groups, including pro-Turkish factions from the Free Syrian Army, arrived from Idlib, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor to coastal Syria with many local residents joining.[8][34] Multiple videos recorded by armed men showed large convoys of militants moving towards Tartus and Latakia. A narrator in one video (which CNN was unable to geolocate) stated: "It was the battle for liberation. Now it's a battle for purification [of Syria]," while a man in military gear stated, "To the Alawites, we're coming to slaughter you and your fathers" and "we will show you the [strength] of the Sunnis."[34]

According to SOHR, at least 35 pro-government fighters and 32 pro-Assad gunmen died in the violence, while four civilians were also killed.[31]

The government said it had arrested regime loyalist General Ibrahim Huweija, chief of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate from 1987 to 2002 and suspect in the 1977 murder of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt.[35]

7 March

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Though the Syrian Transitional Government managed to retake certain areas, such as the Jableh Naval college, the city itself remained with a significant Assadist presence which continued to launch attacks against the government.[6]

The Syrian Popular Resistance stated that it had taken control of numerous villages in Jabal al Alawiyin and expanded the scope of its operations to Masyaf in the Hama countryside.[6]

Late in the day, President al-Sharaa made a statement on state television saying "When we compromise our ethics, we reduce ourselves to the same level as our enemy. The remnants of the fallen regime are looking for a provocation that will lead to violations behind which they can seek refuge."[36]

8 March

[edit]
See also: 2025 massacres of Syrian Alawites

Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that 164 civilians were killed by armed militias supporting the Syrian government between 6 and 8 March. Assad loyalist groups killed 26 civilians and 121 police members of the Syrian General Security Service.[37] UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that Syrian security forces and pro-government fighters perpetrated the killing of more than 700 Alawite civilians across parts of the Latakia countryside in the previous days.[38]

Dozens of civilians, former members of the Assad regime and their families fled to Russia's Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia province to seek refuge.[39]

10 March

[edit]

On 10 March, the Syrian defense ministry announced the end of military operations in the Syrian coastal region.[40]

12 March

[edit]

On 12 March, 9 Syrian soldiers were killed in Barmaia by Assadist insurgents. These insurgents also attacked an interim government fuel truck convoy between Latakia and Baniyas.[41]

Similarly, Assadist insurgents also attacked the gate of military barracks near Beit Yashout, Jableh District.[42]

20 March

[edit]

According to social media sources, on 20 March unidentified gunmen killed former Baath Party Secretary for Izra, Daraa Province, Mohammed Sharif al Zoubi, and former mayor for Khaldiya district, Aleppo, Ibrahim Othman, accused of being an informant under the Assad regime, in vigilante actions.[43]

Responses

[edit]

Kuwait and Bahrain condemned "the crimes committed by outlaws in Syria and their targeting of security forces and state institutions".[44] Following the massacres, protests erupted in Turkey against the Turkish government's support for the Syrian forces, who, according to the protesters, committed crimes against humanity.[45]

In Iraq, the clashes inflamed sectarian conflict with a new Iraqi group known as "Ya Ali Popular Formations" announcing on 9 March that it would pursue and expel all Syrians who support the Syrian transitional government.[4]

On 10 March 2025, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with the Syrian transitional government to combat Assad loyalist insurgents.[46][47]

Analysis

[edit]

The Institute for the Study of War found that even though most populated areas were secured, this did not indicate that the insurgency was defeated as cells in Tartous and Latakia's countryside are still present. It also found that the insurgents have a presence outside of the coastal provinces, with some insurgent pockets of resistance fighting in Hama too. ISW also argued that the capture of some pro-Assad military leaders would not affect the insurgency, as it is not under the control of any one group and there is no clear evidence that these commanders were involved in planning.[6] For its 10 March report on the clashes, it reported that the government had failed to defeat the insurgency. Though there was a decline in insurgent activity, "insurgent cells have continued attacks on interim government forces while expanding attacks across Tartous Province. The decrease in rate of insurgent attacks during major counterinsurgent operations is more likely due to insurgents withdrawing from an area for the duration of the operation rather than a reflection of the operation's success in destroying cells.[4] Furthermore, the ability of insurgent leaders like Coastal Shield Brigade's Mikdad Fatiha to freely travel across the coastal areas demonstrates that the insurgents do not feel troubled by government presence in the region.[48]

Pro-government sources have tended to blame Alawites for the massacres perpetrated against them and some alleged the massacres against Alawites were "false flag attacks".[6]

According to Aron Lund from the independent research foundation Century International, the "new al-Sharaa regime is weak and depends on security forces that are only partly under its control and that are full of anti-Alawite chauvinists."[44] Lund told the AFP news agency: "Both sides feel like they're under attack, both sides have suffered horrific abuses at the hands of the other side, and both sides are armed."[49]

Notes

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  1. ^ First transitional government until 29 March; second transitional government from 29 March
  2. ^ The Syrian defense ministry stated on 10 March that the security operation was over.[3] However, independent analysts such as the Institute for the Study of War disputed this.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Syrian forces arrest officer suspected in 1977 assassination of Kamal Jumblat". Naharnet. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  2. ^ Carter, Brian (10 March 2025). "Understanding Syria's Emerging Insurgency". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  3. ^ Gritten, David (10 March 2025). "Syria says operation against Assad loyalists over after deadly violence". BBC News. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Iran Update, March 10, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  5. ^ "'We will restore stability to the region': 70 killed as Assad forces clash with new Syria government". News24. Agence France-Presse. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Campa, Kelly; Parry, Andie; Braverman, Alexandra; Reddy, Ria; Wells, Katherine; Moorman, Carolyn; Kishore, Siddhant; Rezaei, Ben; Carter, Brian (7 March 2025). "Iran Update, March 7, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b "New Syrian Government Deploys Air Force In Combat For the First Time". Militarnyi. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Sallon, Hélène; Zerrouky, Madjid (9 March 2025). "Syrians describe the violence targeting Alawite minority: 'Tomorrow, there won't be a man left alive in my village'". Le Monde. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b Christou, William (15 March 2025). "'They killed him in cold blood': the cycle of revenge in north-west Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  10. ^ "فيديو - الساحل السوري يشتعل.. 70 قتيلا واشتباكات عنيفة". قناة ومنصة المشهد (in Arabic). 7 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b Samir, Mohamed (7 March 2025). "Syrian security forces clash with former regime loyalists in Latakia countryside". Daily News Egypt. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Lazkiye valisi bölgedeki son durum hakkında konuştu" [Latakia Governor Talks About the Latest Situation in the Region]. Mepa News (in Turkish). 9 March 2025.
  13. ^ a b "More than two thousand civilians and military personnel were victims of the "Sahelian sedition," including 1,557 civilians who were killed and executed" (in Arabic). SOHR. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b c "Daily Update: Extrajudicial Killings on the Syrian Coast (March 6–March 15, 2025)". News - Syrian Network for Human Rights. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Having been executed in Hama and Latakia SOHR documents 20 new civilian fatalities by names". SOHR. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Assad loyalists kill at least 13 police officers in ambush on Syrian forces in coastal town". Associated Press. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Syria can't escape war". UnHerd. 13 March 2025. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025.
  18. ^ Carter, Brian (3 April 2025). "Alawite Insurgents Seek to Use Sectarian Violence to Destabilize the Interim Government in Syria". www.understandingwar.org. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025.
  19. ^ Haid, Haid (17 March 2025). "Syria coastal violence". Al Majalla magazine. Archived from the original on 17 March 2025.
  20. ^ Mroue, Sewell, Bassem, Abby (7 March 2025). "Clashes in Syria between government forces and Assad loyalists kill more than 200". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "48 killed in 'most violent' Syria unrest since Assad ouster: monitor". Watauga Democrat. Agence France-Presse. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  22. ^ Christou, William (6 March 2025). "Thirteen Syrian security officers killed in clashes with Assad loyalists". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  23. ^ a b Haid, Haid (8 March 2025). "Jableh ambush risks igniting larger Türkiye-Iran confrontation". Al Majalla magazine. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Syrian Ministry of Defense Takes Action to Restore Stability Amid New Attacks by Former Regime Loyalists". Watan News. 8 March 2025. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Syrian forces in deadly clashes with Assad-linked fighters in Latakia". Al Jazeera English. 6 March 2025. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Syria announces end of military operation against al-Assad loyalists". Al Jazeera English. 10 March 2025. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025.
  27. ^ Marsi, Federica (8 March 2025). "Syria updates: Gov't forces battle al-Assad loyalists; hundreds killed". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025.
  28. ^ "Monitor says Syria security forces 'executed' 52 Alawites in Latakia". Al Arabiya English. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  29. ^ "163 murder crimes Nearly 300 people killed under retaliatory actions since early 2025". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Damascus government accuses "remnants of previous regime" of starting fires on Syrian coast". Enab Baladi. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  31. ^ a b c "Syria sends troops to coastal cities after 70 killed in clashes". The New Arab. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  32. ^ a b "Syria forces say clashing with gunmen loyal to Assad-era commander". Jordan Times. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  33. ^ a b c "Syria: End Coastal Killing Spree, Protect Civilians". Human Rights Watch. 10 March 2025. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported on March 9 that general security forces and affiliated armed factions and individuals were responsible for the deaths of at least 396 people, "both civilians and disarmed members of the remnants of the Assad regime." Some estimates put the civilian death toll at over 700. The SNHR also reported civilian deaths at the hands of armed groups affiliated with the former government.
    Initially, official Telegram channels urged people to head to the coast to "support our brothers." However, this rhetoric quickly changed, with officials later emphasizing that volunteers were no longer needed. On March 6, Latakia's public security director announced a full security mobilization, while the defense minister ordered military deployment to crush Assad loyalists.
  34. ^ a b Salem, Mostafa (9 March 2025). "Syrian government loyalists accused of executing civilians as violence erupts". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  35. ^ Rickleton, Chris (6 March 2025). "Syrian Forces Battle With Assad-Linked Fighters In New Surge Of Violence". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  36. ^ Christou, William (7 March 2025). "Syrian security forces execute 125 civilians in battle against Assad loyalists". the Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  37. ^ "311 casualties among government forces and civilians in Syrian coast". Enab Baladi. 8 March 2025.
  38. ^ "Syria forces beef up security amid reports of mass killings of Alawites". France 24. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  39. ^ "Fighting continues as Syria's president calls on Alawite to lay down arms". Al Jazeera English. 8 March 2025.
  40. ^ "Syria announces the end of a military operation against Assad-linked gunmen in a coastal region". Associated Press. 10 March 2025. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  41. ^ "Iran Update, March 12, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  42. ^ "Iran Update, March 13, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  43. ^ "Iran Update, March 21, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  44. ^ a b "Syria updates: Gov't forces battle al-Assad loyalists; hundreds killed". Al Jazeera English. 8 March 2025.
  45. ^ "Protesters gather in southeastern Turkey over attacks on Alawites in Syria". Duvar English. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  46. ^ Ahmad, Jaidaa; AlaaElDin, Menna (11 March 2025). "Syria's interim president signs deal with Kurdish-led SDF". Reuters.
  47. ^ "Syria's government signs deal with Kurdish-led SDF forces in the northeast". France 24. 10 March 2025.
  48. ^ "Iran Update, March 11, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 11 March 2025.
  49. ^ "Syria: Hundreds of civilians killed in reported reprisals". Deutsche Welle. 8 March 2025.
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