Over 200 killed in Syria as fighting intensifies between government and Assad supporters

Fighting has erupted along Syria’s coast as forces loyal to the country’s new government launched a series of attacks on villages held by supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad.

The clashes, which began on March 6 and continued into March 7, have resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people, marking the most severe violence since Assad’s regime was overthrown in December, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, pro-government fighters stormed several villages near the coastal city of Jableh, killing dozens of men in apparent retaliation for recent attacks on security forces by Assad loyalists. The villages of Sheer, Mukhtariyeh, and Haffah saw particularly brutal assaults, with 69 men reportedly executed. Another 60 people, including women and children, were killed in the town of Baniyas.

Mounting tensions and security concerns

The conflict was sparked when government forces attempted to detain a wanted individual near Jableh, only to be ambushed by Assad loyalists. In response, pro-government fighters launched large-scale attacks on villages perceived as strongholds of the former regime. The government has since deployed reinforcements to the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus, imposing curfews in several areas.

In a video address, Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, urged pro-government forces to refrain from targeting civilians or engaging in revenge attacks. “When we compromise our ethics, we reduce ourselves to the same level as our enemy,” he said, warning that Assad loyalists could exploit further violence to justify their resistance.

Strategic and sectarian implications

Despite the government’s assurances, fears of sectarian violence persist, particularly among the country’s Alawite minority, which has traditionally supported Assad. Assad’s hometown of Qardaha remains under his loyalists' control, with reports of intense gunfire in residential areas.

Gregory Waters, an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, cautioned that while the recent violence may not escalate into prolonged battles, it could fuel cycles of revenge among coastal communities. “Any violations by the security forces sent from Damascus would leave young Alawite men more fearful of the new government — and more prone to take up arms,” he noted.

Meanwhile, a crowd gathered in Damascus’s Umayyad Square to express support for the new government, calling for national unity. “We’ve had enough of long periods of wars and tragedies,” said one demonstrator, blaming Assad loyalists for the latest unrest.

By Vugar Khalilov