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Syria Launches Crackdown in Tartous After 14 Policemen Killed, Targets Assad Loyalists
Security forces launch a major operation in Tartous after deadly attack on police.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-26
Syria Launches Crackdown in Tartous After 14 Policemen Killed, Targets Assad Loyalists

Damascus: Syria's newly established authorities have launched a sweeping security operation in Tartous province, following a deadly attack that left 14 policemen dead the day before. The operation is aimed at rooting out “remnants” of the ousted Bashar al-Assad government, which the new regime accuses of orchestrating the attack.

The violence in Tartous, a coastal region historically dominated by members of Assad's Alawite sect, marks the deadliest challenge to the Sunni Islamist-led authorities who overthrew Assad on December 8. The attack has intensified fears of sectarian tensions, as the Alawite minority, who were once at the heart of Assad's regime, face increasing hostility from the new rulers.

Tartous Operation Launched
According to state media, the security forces launched the operation in Tartous to "control security, stability, and civil peace, and to pursue the remnants of Assad's militias in the woods and hills." The region has long been a stronghold of Assad’s supporters, who played a key role in his government’s violent suppression of dissent during the 13-year civil war.

The authorities have vowed to wipe out any remaining Assad loyalists who may still be hiding in the area, particularly in the rugged hills and forests. The operation has raised concerns about the potential for further violence and the stability of the coastal region.

Rising Sectarian Tensions
The crackdown comes amid growing sectarian tensions. The authorities have raised alarms over attempts to incite sectarian strife, especially after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in Aleppo. The Syrian interior ministry condemned the incident, calling it an attempt to stoke division, and pledged to safeguard religious sites from future attacks.

In response to the growing unrest, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former al-Qaeda affiliate and one of the groups that led the rebel campaign against Assad, has repeatedly pledged to protect minority groups, including Alawites, Christians, and other sects that fear the new government may impose an Islamist agenda. The fear of persecution remains high among these communities, with many worried about their future under the new regime.

Ongoing Struggles in Syria
Syria’s future remains uncertain as sectarian divisions continue to shape the country’s political and social landscape. The ongoing tensions between the new authorities and Assad loyalists, combined with the fears of minority groups, make the road to peace and stability in Syria a complex and difficult journey.
Tagged:

Syria

MiddleEast

Tartous

SecurityCrackdown

AssadLoyalists
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