Syrian Army faces heavy losses in Latakia as operation against pro-Assad forces intensifies PHOTO / VIDEO 

The Syrian army’s operation against supporters of the overthrown regime of Bashar al-Assad continues in the Latakia province, with at least 11 Syrian security personnel reported dead during recent clashes. 

The pro-Assad groups launched a coordinated attack on security forces in Beit Ana village, resulting in the death of one security officer. Furthermore, an ambulance en route to transport the deceased and injured to the hospital was also targeted by supporters of the former regime, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Reports indicate that the Syrian security forces have sent reinforcements to Beit Ana, where further clashes have occurred with the assailants. 

The village is notably the hometown of Suheil al-Hasan, commander of the 24th Division, known as the "Tiger Forces," which gained notoriety for its involvement in mass killings during the civil war. In a statement to the media, Mustafa Kinivati, Director of Latakia's General Security Directorate, confirmed that the supporters of the ousted regime carried out a planned attack on the general security forces’ checkpoints, causing significant damage to state institutions.

Kinivati also announced the mobilisation of additional forces to repel the attacks in the rural area of Jableh, noting that clashes are ongoing in the district center. As part of efforts to restore order, a curfew has been imposed in the provinces of Tartus and Homs. 

In Tartus, the curfew will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. (GMT+3), while in Homs, it will run from 10:00 p.m to 8:00 a.m. Additionally, large-scale operations have been launched to sweep through urban centres, villages, towns, and the surrounding mountains. Reports suggest that the pro-Assad groups involved in the attacks are linked to the so-called Military Council, led by Brigadier General Ghiath Dalla.

Dalla, a former Assad loyalist, has expanded his influence by forging alliances with several former high-ranking officers from Assad's forces, including Mohammed Muhrez Jaber, the former commander of the notorious "Desert Hawks" division. 

Under Dalla's leadership, the Military Council has reportedly received financial backing from Lebanon's Hezbollah and assistance from Iraqi militias, along with logistical support from the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In a separate development, Syrian security forces captured Major General Ibrahim Huweija, the former head of air intelligence, who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people, including the Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt, during the regime of Hafez al-Assad. 

Additionally, the leader of the "Coastal Shield" group formed from remnants of the former regime, was killed in clashes with internal security forces in the Al-Datur area of Latakia.

Huweija is said to have directly overseen operations involving cells that collaborated with Bashar al-Assad's regime and were supported by foreign forces. As the situation intensifies, military reinforcements continue to pour into all fronts along Syria’s coastline. A large-scale operation to eliminate the remnants of the regime across the entire Syrian coast is expected to begin in the near future, signaling a major escalation in the Syrian army's efforts to quash opposition forces.

By Naila Huseynova