Syria's New Conflict: A Fight for Control

The Syrian government's loyalists are accused of committing atrocities against civilians. This is the worst violence in Syria since the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad. The violence has been described as a crackdown against those still loyal to the former government. This has led to communal killings and a grim situation. The violence started after armed men attacked Alawite heartlands. The Syrian government said this was to stop an insurgency by rebels loyal to the former government. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least 642 people have died. Many of these were civilians killed by government forces. The interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, called for national unity. He described the clashes as expected challenges. The Syrian government has ordered an investigation into the violence. The government has not yet commented on the accusations. Residents of Latakia described the horrors they witnessed. They said armed men moved from house to house, attacking people. One resident said, "They declared jihad on us from all over Syria. " Another resident, Bashir, said his 70-year-old uncle and his 60-year-old wife were killed in cold blood. The attacks started after reports of ambushes by Assad loyalists. The attacks were against members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. This group led the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader. The Assad family, members of the minority Alawite sect, ruled Syria for over 50 years. The new government promised political equality and representation to all sects. Security remains a major challenge for the new administration. Several videos appeared on social media. They showed convoys of armed men heading to the cities of Latakia and Tartous. One video featured a narrator saying, "Now it’s a battle for purification (of Syria). " Another video showed a man in military fatigues threatening Alawites. The attacks raise questions about the new Syrian administration. The administration has tried to distance itself from its jihadist past. Bashir, a resident of Latakia, said, "What happened from three months ago until today, equals what the Assads did to us in five decades. " The Syrian government reported that at least 150 of its security forces had been killed. They also said that 300 had been captured in clashes with Assad loyalists. These numbers cannot be independently confirmed.