Latakia governor says security improved as authorities pursue Assad loyalists

The security situation in Syria's Latakia province has improved since the deadly coastal violence earlier this year, as authorities continue to pursue remnants of the Assad regime, according to the region's governor, despite fresh attacks reported elsewhere in the province.

In an interview published on Tuesday by The New Arab’s Arabic edition, Governor Muhammad Othman said conditions in the port city had significantly improved since March, when militants loyal to the ousted regime launched an attack on Syrian authorities.

"The situation in the city of Latakia has gradually begun to improve, following the stabilisation of security and the pursuit of remnants of the former regime," Othman told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

"We are currently working to pursue the remaining remnants who are attempting to tamper with the region's security. Our priorities are also focused on restoring services to the region and preparing the governorate for the upcoming tourist season."

Over 1,700 people were killed in violent clashes in the Latakia, Tartus and Homs provinces in March, in what many critics of Syria's new Islamist-led rulers slammed as targeted sectarian killings.

Most of the dead were civilians of the Alawite community to which former longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad belonged.

While the Syrian government pledged to investigate the massacres, it blamed Assad loyalists and foreign actors - an apparent reference to Iran - for attempting to destabilise Syria and fragment the country.

The violence triggered international condemnation, with several countries urging interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former militant commander who led the December offensive that toppled Assad, to guarantee protection for all Syrian communities.

When asked whether Latakia had overcome those security incidents, the governor said: "Yes, to a very good extent. Security and military forces are deployed to maintain order in the region, but there are still some remnants and instigators from abroad who are trying to sow discord among the people, incite sectarianism against the state, and destabilise the region.

We are striving with all our energies and capabilities to impose complete control over the region."

Othman said the primary challenge new authorities face in Latakia are those related to security.

He reiterated that there were "individuals abroad" trying to sow discord among locals under the pretext of protecting the population, namely the Alawites, and added that these external parties were pushing for the coastal region to break away from the rest of Syria.

"This is something we absolutely reject," he said.

The governor also said that authorities were working to improve infrastructure and public services through private initiatives supported by international organisations and local civil society groups.

Long considered the heartland of the Assad regime, Latakia was largely spared the full force of Syria's 14-year war, which devastated much of the country and shattered its economy. Still, years of conflict, poor governance, and sanctions have left the province suffering from high unemployment and deepening poverty.

Several killed in clashes

Despite the governor’s assurances, parts of Latakia, especially in the countryside, remain plagued by violence and instability.

Residents of the village of Jawzat al-Ma’ near Mashqita told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that two armed shepherds stormed a farm on Monday evening and opened fire, killing five civilians who were working the land and wounding two others. Most of the victims were reportedly from the same family.

Locals said they had previously appealed to security forces to curb attacks by Bedouin groups, who they claim have been roaming villages armed and seizing land unlawfully.

Earlier this month, four civilians were killed in the village of Ain al-Jawza by unidentified gunmen.

Separately, security forces announced the arrest of a suspect linked to the 6 March clashes in Jableh, a city south of Latakia, during a raid in the village of Al-Zuhairiyat. Jableh, which has an Alawite majority, saw some of the fiercest fighting and a wave of arrests following the March violence.

Damascus has claimed that remnants of the Assad regime briefly seized control of the city and surrounding areas during an attempted coup, sparking the bloodshed.

International demands to disarm militias, protect minorities, and combat extremism have grown louder as part of broader efforts to support Syria’s post-war transition. In May, deadly clashes between Syrian security forces and members of the Druze community further stoked fears about minority rights and the fragile future of the country.