Worst violence in Syria since Assad's fall: dozens of deaths in fighting

Von WOM

Last week in Syria, the worst unrest has occurred since the transitional government was taken over. Numerous people have been killed or injured in the clashes between the security forces and the supporters of the former President Bashar al-Assad

causes of the unrest in Syria

The arguments broke out in the Latakia and Tartous regions on the Mediterranean coast on Thursday, where support for Assad among Syrian Alawites is strongly pronounced and has already increased sectarian violence in the past three months. The Assad family, which belongs to the minority of the Alawites, ruled Syria over five decades until Assad was overthrown by Sunni Islamist militants who wanted to change the political and sectarian order of the country.

The role of the Alawites and the Assad government

The Alawites, which make up about 10% of the Syrian population, played an important role in the Assad regime. While many Alawites have laid their weapons since December, there are still numerous that are still armed. The recent increase in violence illustrates the challenges in front of which the new regime is in Syria, especially in the pacification of disadvantaged groups that are strongly armed.

statements by the Syrian government

"We are on the threshold of a critical phase that requires awareness and discipline," said the Syrian Ministry of the Interior on Friday. The official Syrian news agency Sana reported that after the death of several police officers "large, unorganized crowds moved towards the coast". Anas Khattab, head of the Syrian secret service, accused "former military and security leaders" of the regulated regime to have planned and carried out these acts of violence.

social media and distribution of violence

Videos on social media that have been published since Thursday apparently show numerous victims among the Syrian security forces and among civilians. A video shows several men who are dead next to a police vehicle. Another shows women who mourn the bodies of at least a dozen men in civilian clothes who were apparently shot. A third of the video shows security forces that shoot intensively in the direction of the incident fire at night.

reactions of military leadership

The spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Hassan Abdel Ghani, said on Friday that "high -ranking war criminals" were scattered in the mountains and there is only one protection for them: the dishes where they will face justice. "Do not become the fuel of a lost war ... The choice is clear: put your weapons down or face your inevitable fate," he said to other Assad supporters.

Current developments and security situation

On Friday, large military reinforcements were visible in the region. The city of Tartous was placed under the outcome of the outcome by Saturday. According to reports, the security forces advanced on Friday north along the coast towards the city of Jableh, near the Russian military base in Hmeimim. Other videos show how government forces in al-Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad family, penetrate under explosions and clouds of smoke.

The voice of the civilian population

The Syrian Ministry of the Interior appealed to "all civilians to stay away from military and security areas on Friday". In addition, all military and security units were instructed to "strictly pay attention to the specified procedures and laws to protect civilians". The activist and journalist Abdul Rahman Taleb, based in Latakia, reported that he was attacked by Assad supporters on Thursday while reporting on the clashes.

international reactions to the conflicts

Violence has triggered demonstrations in several Syrian cities, both pro and anti-government loyalty. Saudi Arabia, a strong supporter of the new government, condemned the "crimes that were committed by law-breaking groups" in Syria.