Syrian security forces loyal to the country’s new leadership have taken control of the city of Tartus. They are now preparing to launch a sweep operation aimed at clearing the area of armed supporters of former president Bashar al-Assad. This was announced by the commander overseeing security operations in the city.
“Our forces have established control over Tartus and are now deploying units across its neighborhoods,” the commander said, as quoted by Al-Ikhbaria. “We are preparing to launch a large-scale operation to clear the city of Tartus and nearby settlements,” he added.
According to the commander, security forces have already “eliminated a significant number of fighters loyal to the former regime and seized weapons and ammunition.” He also reported that Assad loyalists had been setting up ambushes and roadblocks along the highway connecting the city of Homs to the Mediterranean coast.
On March 6, clashes broke out in several areas of Latakia province between security forces and armed groups loyal to Assad. The most intense fighting took place in the city of Jableh, home to a significant Alawite population — the sect to which Assad’s family belongs.
Security forces say the armed groups involved in the clashes are linked to Suhail al-Hassan, a former commander of Syria’s special forces. According to Al Jazeera, at least 15 security personnel have been killed in the fighting so far.
With violence continuing to escalate — the largest such confrontations since Syria’s change of power in December 2024 — curfews have been imposed in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Homs.
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Based on materials from TASS