Clashes and Revenge Killings in Syria Leave Over 1,000 Dead in Violent Escalation

A funeral of four Syrian security force members killed in the clashes

The death toll from two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad, along with the revenge killings that followed, has risen to more than 1,000, marking one of the deadliest acts of violence since Syria's conflict began 14 years ago. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 745 civilians were killed, many from close-range shootings, in addition to 125 members of the government security forces and 148 militants aligned with Assad's faction. The violence led to widespread power and water outages in large parts of the Latakia region.

The violence, which erupted Thursday, represents a significant escalation of the challenge faced by the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents overthrew Assad. The government has stated that its actions were in response to attacks from remnants of Assad’s forces and blamed "individual actions" for the violence. However, revenge killings carried out by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government against the Alawite sect, Assad’s former base of support, intensified on Friday, further complicating the situation.

Relatives and neighbors mourn during the funeral procession

Residents of Alawite villages reported mass killings by gunmen who shot many of their victims, mostly men, in the streets or at their homes. Homes were looted and set on fire across the coastal region, while thousands fled to nearby mountains for safety. In Baniyas, one of the towns most affected by the violence, residents described bodies left on the streets, in homes, and on building rooftops, with no one able to retrieve them due to the ongoing gunfire. One resident, Ali Sheha, who fled with his family, reported that at least 20 people from his neighborhood were killed, some in their homes or shops. Sheha described the killings as acts of revenge for the crimes committed by Assad’s regime.

Witnesses reported that foreign fighters and militants from nearby areas participated in the attacks. Some gunmen were said to have checked residents’ IDs to confirm their sect before carrying out executions. Homes were set on fire, cars were stolen, and looting occurred during the violence. The revenge killings reportedly ceased early on Saturday.

The body of a Syrian security force member being carried to burial

The violence in Syria's coastal regions has been described by the Observatory’s chief as one of the largest massacres in the ongoing conflict. The Syrian government has claimed that it has regained control of many areas previously held by Assad’s loyalists. Local funerals were held for security personnel killed in the clashes, and mass graves were prepared for the victims of revenge attacks, which included several women and children.

In the aftermath of the violence, there were reports of Alawite civilians fleeing to Lebanon for refuge. Lebanese lawmakers have called for international protection for the Alawite people, who were historically favored under Assad’s regime but are now facing persecution by the new authorities.

The latest clashes reportedly began when government forces attempted to detain a wanted individual near the coastal city of Jableh and were ambushed by Assad loyalists. The growing death toll highlights the severe instability that continues to grip the region and the ongoing sectarian violence in the aftermath of Assad’s ouster.