Saudi Arabia calls for stability in Syria amid deadly clashes with Assad loyalists VIDEO

In a statement released on March 7, Saudi Arabia condemned the recent targeting of security forces and crimes committed by “outlaw groups” in Syria. 

The Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the Kingdom’s strong support for the Syrian government’s efforts to maintain security, stability, and civil peace, Caliber.Az reports referencing Arab media.

This condemnation came as violence erupted in the coastal province of Latakia, where Syrian forces clashed with gunmen loyal to a former Assad-era special forces commander. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 70 people were killed during the fighting on March 6, which included helicopter strikes by government forces.

According to the Observatory, the violence, which centred in the coastal town of Jableh and surrounding villages, marked one of the most intense attacks on the new authorities since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December. Among those killed were 35 security personnel and 32 fighters loyal to the former president, along with four civilians.

The clash took place in Latakia, a key stronghold for Assad's Alawite minority, who were considered staunch supporters of his regime throughout the civil war. As the fighting intensified, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson for Syria's defence ministry, issued a stark warning to Assad loyalists still fighting in the region.

🚨 Suriye ordusu, Lazkiye’de devrik rejim üyelerini Drone ile hedef aldı. pic.twitter.com/vixg8ftQn9

— Conflict (@ConflictTR) March 7, 2025

"Thousands have chosen to surrender their weapons and return to their families, while others insist on fleeing and dying in defence of murderers and criminals. The choice is clear: lay down your weapons or face your inevitable fate," Ghani said in a statement broadcast by state media.

The ongoing violence has presented a major security challenge to interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is also dealing with growing resistance from various factions, including clashes with Druze forces in the south. Alawite activists have reported increased violence and attacks against their community, particularly in rural areas of Homs and Latakia, following the fall of Assad.

In a related development, Syria's foreign minister recently assured the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new government is committed to dismantling any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles produced under Assad’s regime. While the Assad government has consistently denied using chemical weapons during the civil war, human rights groups have accused the regime of carrying out multiple chemical attacks.

By Tamilla Hasanova