Syria’s Interim Government Vows to Crush Assad Loyalists Amid Coastal Clashes
"Surrender your weapons and turn yourselves in before it is too late," said Ahmad al-Sharaa
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syria’s interim government has vowed to continue its crackdown on pro-Assad militants, calling on them to surrender immediately, as clashes in the coastal region have intensified.
In a statement released on Friday, the Syrian interim president reaffirmed that the country is moving forward unified and resolute, warning remnants of the old regime that resistance is futile.
Interim President: No Power Can Divide Syria
The statement, attributed to Syria’s interim leadership, emphasized that Syria stands united from east to west, north to south, and that any attack on one region will be met with collective defense across the nation.
"Syria today knows no distinction between authority and people; it belongs to all and is the responsibility of all," the statement read, praising the nationwide mobilization against Assad loyalists.
Authorities Denounce Assad Militias’ Atrocities
Syrian authorities accused pro-Assad fighters of committing grave crimes, including targeting security forces, storming hospitals, and terrorizing civilians. The statement warned:
"You have committed an unforgivable crime against all Syrians, and you have received a response that you cannot withstand. Surrender your weapons and turn yourselves in before it is too late."
The government also highlighted its adherence to legal and ethical principles, warning against retaliatory violence and stressing that captured fighters must be treated humanely, in accordance with both Islamic and national laws.
Reports of Mass Executions in Coastal Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 136 Alawites were executed in northwestern Syria by security forces as part of the government’s sweeping offensive against Assad loyalists. The authorities, however, described these killings as isolated violations.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government extended curfews in Tartous and Latakia, where fierce battles have been raging since Thursday, marking the most intense fighting since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in December.
Security Reinforcements and Urban Sweeps
Additional military reinforcements have been deployed to Syria’s coastal region to eliminate remaining pockets of resistance. According to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), security forces are conducting extensive combing operations in cities, villages, and mountainous areas in Latakia and Tartous, targeting pro-Assad militias and their local supporters.
In Jableh, government troops clashed with loyalist fighters, after an ambush killed several security personnel late Thursday, prompting authorities to impose a citywide curfew.
Over 230 Killed in Unprecedented Violence
The death toll from the ongoing clashes has risen to 231, according to SOHR, reflecting the scale of the challenge facing Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he works to consolidate security and dismantle Assad’s remaining loyalist networks.
Authorities have reiterated that the only path forward is through state-controlled security forces, stressing that no unauthorized weapons or militias will be tolerated.
"Syria has moved forward and will not take a single step backward. Rest assured that we will see this through," the statement concluded.
