Syria Coastal Unrest: Army Deploys to Latakia and Tartous Amid Deadly Sectarian Clashes
The fragile peace in post-Assad Syria faced its most severe test this weekend as the Syrian Ministry of Defense ordered a massive military deployment to the coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartous.
Armored vehicles and elite units moved into city centers on Monday following a wave of violent clashes between Alawite protesters and counter-demonstrators that has left at least four people dead and over 100 injured.
The unrest, triggered by a deadly mosque bombing in Homs, has rapidly evolved into a political crisis, with members of the Alawite minority demanding “federalism” and international protection against what they describe as systematic marginalization by the new transitional government.
The Catalyst: The Homs Mosque Bombing
The current spiral of violence began on Friday, December 26, when an explosion ripped through a predominantly Alawite mosque in Homs during afternoon prayers, killing eight people.
While a little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility, many in the Alawite community blame the new Sunni-led administration in Damascus for failing to provide adequate security.
In response, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Alawite Supreme Council, issued a provocative call for mass demonstrations across the coastal heartland.
On Sunday, thousands took to the streets in Latakia and Tartous, raising slogans not seen in decades:
“Self-Determination” and “Political Federalism.” The protests quickly turned into a battlefield as pro-government counter-protesters intervened, leading to street fights involving rocks, knives, and eventually, live ammunition.
Military Intervention and “Justice Mission”
By Monday morning, the Syrian transitional administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, declared that the situation had escalated beyond the control of local police.
The Defense Ministry announced that army units, supported by tanks and armored personnel carriers, had entered central Latakia and Tartous to “restore stability and pursue outlaw groups.”
The government has accused “remnants of the defunct Assad regime” of exploiting the grief of the Alawite community to incite a secessionist movement.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba stated that security forces were acting with “maximum restraint” but confirmed that firearms were used to confront “masked gunmen” who targeted police stations with hand grenades.
However, independent monitors from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have reported that security forces opened fire directly on protesters at the Al-Azhari roundabout in Latakia, leading to several of the confirmed fatalities.
The Demand for Federalism
The unrest underscores a deep-seated fear among Syria’s religious minorities following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Protesters are now openly calling for a “decentralized governance” model that would grant the coastal regions—traditionally the Alawite heartland—significant autonomy.
Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal has gone as far as to demand “international protection,” arguing that the current transitional framework excludes Alawites from public employment and subjects young men to arbitrary detention.
The government in Damascus has rejected these calls, labeling them a “threat to national unity” and an attempt to “blackmail the state at the negotiating table.”
Key Highlights of the Coastal Unrest:
Death Toll:
4 confirmed dead and 108 wounded in Latakia and Tartous over the last 24 hours.
Military Deployment:
Armored columns have established checkpoints around major government buildings and squares.
The Homs Link:
The unrest is a direct reaction to the December 26 mosque bombing that killed eight Alawite worshipers.
Political Demands:
Protesters are seeking a transition to a federal state and the release of thousands of Alawite detainees.
Transitional Challenge:
This is the most significant domestic security challenge for President Ahmad al-Sharaa since taking office.
CJ Global Investigative Insight
Our sources in the region have uncovered “exclusive secrets” regarding the role of foreign actors in this unrest.
Intelligence reports suggest that certain regional powers, wary of the new Damascus administration’s alignment, may be providing logistical support to Alawite “self-defense” committees in Jableh and Tartous.
Furthermore, a leaked internal memo from the Interior Ministry suggests that the government is preparing for a wide-scale “cleansing operation” of former regime loyalists in the coastal military academies, a move that could trigger a full-scale armed mutiny if not handled with extreme care.
As the army maintains its grip on the coastal cities, the fundamental question remains: Can the new Syria accommodate its diverse minorities, or is the country destined for another cycle of sectarian bloodshed?
