Fierce Clashes in Tartus: Syria's New Security Forces Under Fire

In the coastal province of Tartus, a traditional stronghold of the ousted Assad regime, there were severe clashes in which members of Syria's new police force lost their lives. This marks the most dramatic night since the removal of the Assad regime. The Syrian transitional government, predominantly dominated by the Islamist rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), stated that their units were attacked by supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad during a security operation in Tartus. In this incident, the new Ministry of Interior lost fourteen members. These battles in Tartus are part of a larger wave of protests in the country, ignited by the spread of videos. These videos show, among other things, the burning of a shrine sacred to the Alawites. The Alawites are a minority in Syria to which Assad also belongs. In some footage, rebels can be seen trampling on corpses in front of the shrine. The transitional government declared that these videos from Aleppo, circulating on social media, are already older. They originated from the time when HTS took over the city a few weeks ago. The Interior Minister warned that the renewed publication of these recordings aims to incite unrest among the Syrian population. In addition to measures against the spread of hate videos, the transitional government relies on the deployment of security forces in Damascus to counteract the emerging unrest in the predominantly Alawite district of Mezzeh 86. The tensions in the region amplify the already existing security concerns of the new Syrian leadership. Reports of attacks on Alawites and acts of revenge against former regime officials are increasing, leading to drastic measures by the government. Activists call for intensified efforts in building a stable security and justice system to close the gaps between the supporters of the old and new regimes.