Syria Faces Renewed Escalation as Security Forces Clash with Assad Regime Remnants
Major Security Operations Intensify in Damascus and Aleppo, Amid Violent Sectarian Attacks in Coastal Regions.
Watan-Syria witnessed a new security escalation today, Monday, in both the capital Damascus and the city of Aleppo. The Internal Security Forces announced that they had thwarted an attack by remnants of the former regime on a security checkpoint in the Mezzeh neighborhood of Damascus, according to a security source cited by Al Jazeera.
In northern Syria, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani confirmed that Syrian army units managed to repel an attack carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the Ashrafiya front in the city of Aleppo, causing casualties among the attacking groups.
This new escalation comes amid ongoing military operations in coastal areas to pursue the remnants of the Assad regime. The clashes are currently concentrated in the countryside of Latakia and Tartus, while major cities are experiencing a cautious calm.
Intensified Security Operations Target Armed Groups in Syria’s Mountainous Regions
Military sources confirmed that the second phase of Syria’s security campaign is now focused on combing the mountainous areas of Banyas and Qadmous in the countryside of Tartus. Efforts are underway to reach agreements with local leaders in Masyaf, Hama, to track down armed group leaders. Official sources also reported the discovery of a mass grave containing members of the General Security and police forces near Qardaha, the Assad family’s birthplace.
According to Fadel Abdul Ghani of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the death toll since March 6, 2025, has reached 642, with 315 killed by regime remnants. Among the casualties are 167 General Security Forces members and 148 civilians. In retaliation, General Security and allied forces have killed 328 people, including civilians and unarmed individuals. Reports also indicate the killing of over 800 Alawite civilians in revenge attacks.
Committee to Investigate Coastal Events
Amid escalating violence, Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decision to form a special investigative committee to uncover the truth about the events in Syria’s coastal region, stressing the need to ensure civil peace and hold those involved in killings and violations accountable.
In a recorded speech on Sunday evening, Al-Shara stated: “We are facing attempts to drag Syria into a civil war, and we will work to form a high-level committee to protect civil peace, tasked with direct communication with the people in the coastal areas and listening to their demands to ensure their security and stability.”
Reports of sectarian violence and civilian executions have sparked international outrage. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the massacres targeting minorities in Syria, urging the transitional government to hold those responsible accountable.
In an official statement, Rubio said: “The United States stands with the religious and ethnic minorities in Syria, including Christians, Druze, Alawites, and Kurds, and we extend our condolences to the victims’ families. The transitional authorities must ensure accountability for these crimes.”
For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the “horrific” massacres of civilians in western Syria, calling for clear measures to achieve transitional justice. The European Union also issued a statement condemning the violence against civilians and denouncing the attacks by remnants of the Assad regime on government forces in Syria’s coastal region.