LATAKIA, Syria (AP) – Recent clashes between Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to former President Bashar Assad have resulted in over 70 fatalities, leaving parts of the coastal region outside government control, according to a war monitor. The violence is reported to be the most severe since Assad was ousted from power in early December by insurgent groups led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Despite official statements from the new authorities denouncing collective punishment and sectarian retribution, sectarian attacks against the minority Alawite sect continue to escalate.

In response to the deteriorating situation, government forces have dispatched significant reinforcements to the cities of Latakia and Tartus, along with surrounding towns that are key to the Alawite community and historically support Assad. State media indicated that heavy military presence aimed to regain control over areas affected by the clashes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the death toll reached 35 members of government forces, 32 Assad loyalists, and 4 civilians. Eyewitness accounts note that many neighborhoods in Latakia remain under a strict curfew, with no civilians visible in the streets. Reports from within the city indicate ongoing clashes, though most areas have reportedly returned to a semblance of calm under government oversight.

Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Observatory, stated that the outskirts of the coastal towns of Baniyas and Jableh remain controlled by Assad loyalists. Additionally, it was reported that Assad’s hometown of Qardaha and numerous nearby Alawite villages are also outside government jurisdiction. A resident from Qardaha described the situation as dire, noting that heavy machine gun fire has been directed at residential areas, resulting in civilians remaining confined to their homes since the previous afternoon due to the intensity of the violence.

The clashes reportedly commenced when a security force attempted to detain a wanted individual near Jableh but was ambushed by loyalists of Assad. This incident signifies the growing instability in a region that has historically been a stronghold for the Alawite community.

The conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has had devastating effects, claiming more than half a million lives and displacing millions. The recent unrest represents a continuation of the ongoing sectarian tensions that have characterized the conflict.

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By Omar Albam, The Associated Press