Syrian Ministry of Defense has declared the end of its operation against Assad’s loyalists

A military operation conducted by Syrian forces against loyalists of the deposed former President Bashar al-Assad has concluded, as announced by the defense ministry on Monday. According to a war monitoring organization, clashes between Assad’s supporters and the new Islamist leadership in the former president’s coastal stronghold have resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, predominantly among civilians.

Hassan Abdul Ghany, spokesperson for the defense ministry, stated on X that public institutions are now positioned to resume operations and deliver essential services.

“We are facilitating the return to normalcy and the establishment of security and stability,” Abdul Ghany remarked. He also indicated that strategies are being developed to continue addressing the remnants of the previous administration and to neutralize any potential threats.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa pledged on Sunday to pursue those responsible for the violent confrontations and to hold accountable anyone who exceeds the authority of the new regime. His office announced the formation of an independent committee tasked with investigating the clashes and the violence perpetrated by both factions.

Abdul Ghany further noted that security forces would collaborate with the investigative committee, providing complete access to uncover the details of the incidents, verify the facts, and ensure justice for those wronged. “We successfully countered the assaults from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We disrupted their surprise tactics and managed to secure vital areas, safeguarding most of the main thoroughfares,” he stated.

While a degree of calm followed Assad’s removal in December, recent days have seen a surge in violence as forces associated with the new Islamist rulers intensified their crackdown on a rising insurgency from the Alawite minority.

The conflict escalated into acts of retribution against Alawites, a sect of Shi’ite Islam that constitutes a significant portion of Assad’s staunch supporters and has become linked to his wartime atrocities committed against Syria’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population.

According to the British-based Syrian Observatory, over 1,000 individuals lost their lives during a two-day period of violence, which included 745 civilians, 125 members of the Syrian security forces, and 148 fighters loyal to Assad.

Following the overthrow of his government by rebels from Sharaa’s Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Assad sought refuge in Russia last year, marking the end of decades of harsh repression and a brutal civil war.