Politics Report: 70 dead in fighting in Syria
According to activists, 70 people have been killed in fierce fighting between troops of the Syrian transitional government and armed supporters of the long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled last year.
07.03.2025, 14:07
07.03.2025, 14:08
SDA
This is according to a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. According to government forces, the clashes are taking place in the province of Latakia, a stronghold of the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad also belongs.
Following attacks by Assad sympathizers on Thursday, heavy fighting broke out on Friday after larger contingents of troops arrived in the region.
Artillery, tanks and rocket launchers were used by government troops, an officer said. The fighting was mainly concentrated in the city of Jabla.
Curfew extended
According to the state news agency Sana, curfews were extended until Saturday morning. The aim was to protect civilians while the military and security forces took action against "remnants of the former government".
Among the dead were 35 security forces of the transitional government, 32 supporters of former President Assad and four civilians, the UK-based monitoring center reported.
Dozens of other people were injured. According to unconfirmed reports, prisoners were executed on both sides.
Heaviest fighting since the overthrow
The fighting broke out on Thursday in the mountainous coastal region, where some armed groups with links to the previous government, which was toppled in December, are still active.
Assad had ruled Syria for more than two decades. After a lightning offensive led by the Islamist group HTS at the end of last year, he fled to Russia.
Since then, the new transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been trying to restore security in the country. The fighting that has now broken out is considered to be the heaviest since the overthrow.
