Syria ends military operation against Assad loyalists after days of violence
- 10 March, 13:01
Syrian government on Monday announced the end of the military operation against loyalists of ousted former president Bashar al-Assad, after days of unprecedented violence in which around 1,000 people were killed.
The clashes between government forces and Assad’s supporters that started on Thursday, marked the worst violence in Syria since opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized power, after launching lighting offensive that ended 13 years of devastating civil war.
The government’s security forces killed supporters of Bashar al-Assad in Latakia and Tartous provinces. The government said its forces were responding to Assad’s supporters and blamed “individual actions” for the rampant violence. According to war monitoring groups, 1,500 people have been killed since Thursday, including 1,068 civilians during the clashes. Forces of Sunni-led government have been accused of killing our revenge killings against members of Alawite Islamic sect, who are Assad’s major support base in Syria.
On Monday, defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani announced on X platform that the security operation had ended after "achieving all the specified objectives".
"Our forces have neutralized the security cells and remnants of the former regime from the town of al-Mukhtareyah, the town of al-Mazairaa, the area of al-Zobar, and other locations in Latakia province, as well as Dalia town, Tanita town, and Qadmous in Tartous province, resulting in the thwarting of threats and securing the area," Ghani said. The ministry spokesperson said the incident would be investigated.
Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, acknowledged that “many violations” had taken place and promised to punish everyone responsible. "Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all," he said. The escalation marks a major challenge for the HTS that spearheaded the opposition movement to end Assad’s decades-long rule.
