TUNIS, March 9. /TASS/. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has set up an independent committee to identify the causes of the current escalation in the coastal governorates in western Syria.
According to a Telegram post of his office, the committee of seven members is tasked to investigate "crimes against civilians," "attacks on government institutions, army and security officers," identify the perpetrators and bring charges against them. The new committee will also probe into the "causes, circumstances and conditions that have led to these developments."
The committee is to report about its findings to the president within 30 days.
On March 6, clashes broke out in various areas of the Latakia governorate between Syrian security forces and armed groups supporting former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The fiercest fighting took place in Jableh, home to Alawites, representatives of the religious minority, to which the Assad family belongs. Authorities sent army units and armored vehicles to the three provinces, and curfews have been imposed in the main cities. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced on March 7 that it had regained control of the coastal areas. On March 8, Syria’s interim government deployed additional forces to littoral areas to suppress armed resistance from pro-Assad units. These clashes are the biggest challenge that the transitional government in Damascus has faced since the change of power in December 2024.
According to the Rudaw Kurdish television channel, at least 120 armed pro-Assad militants and 93 government troops have been killed in the fighting in the Latakia and Tartus governorates. The death toll among civilians has exceeded 500, with most of the victims belonging to the Alawite community, which makes up 12% of the country's population.