Alwaght- Syria is witnessing its worset days. Since last week, parts of southern Syria have been theater to unrest that has now encompassed the western line and coast of Syria. A Syria war observer told Aljazeera that the clashes between the new Syrian forces and armed groups loyal to the former President Bashar al-Assad over the past three days have killed at least 147, the deadliest days since fall of al-Assad government earlier in December.
Spark of clashes
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in the Arab country, said the fighting began on Thursday afternoon after 16 government security personnel were killed by rebels in the Latakia suburbs. The clashes are the deadliest attack on the new Syrian forces since they took office in Damascus.
Images published by Reuters show the bodies of at least 20 people who appeared to have been shot in the Alawite-majority village of al-Mukhtariyah, about 12 miles east of the provincial capital of Latakia. Blood is seen around several of the bodies.
Instability from the south to western coast
According to reports, most residents of Tartus and Latakia had stayed in their homes in recent days, as military convoys were patrolling the streets and security forces of Mohammad al-Jolani government were patrolling and shooting in the streets. Parts of the western coast are also still witnessing clashes, and it seems that the situation in the Alawite-inhabited region is still unstable.
Al-Araby news network reported, citing local sources, that there were also heavy clashes between the security forces of the Syrian interim government and the "Coast Shield Forces" near Ibn Sina Hospital in Latakia, western Syria. According to the network, the Coast Shield Forces, recently formed in opposition to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated rulers of Syria, in Latakia have launched a large-scale attack on the forces of al-Jolani, officially named Ahmad al-Sharaa.
The Coast Shield Forces in a statement published on social media addressed al-Jolani government, saying: "We targeted your military points and ranks and destroyed them, killed dozens of your soldiers and captured dozens, but you targeted women, children, and the elderly and committed massacres against them."
"What we did to you was a simple response to your crimes, but after the crimes you committed today against children, women, and the elderly, we promise you that the next response will be many times greater, even at the cost of our lives and the lives of our children," the newly-formed force added.
Al-Ahd TV of Iraq reported killing of Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Dhala by the security forces of the Syrian interim government. This Sunni cleric, according to the news network, had previously condemned the ethnic cleansing operations against the Alawites by the Syrian interim government.
At the same time, local sources reported an explosion near Al-Watani Hospital in As Suwayda in southern Syria, along with the sound of gunfire.
Occupation in south along with infighting
The southern Syria clashes come as southwest of the country and majority Druze regions in recent months have been scene to Israeli aggression and occupation. The Israeli regime has occupied parts of Syria's Golan Heights and penetrated into areas inside Syrian territory. Reports indicate that the Israeli army has penetrated Syrian territory and carried out aggressive actions, such as destroying military bases belonging to the Syrian government in the countryside of Quneitra, along with airstrikes on weapons depots or Syrian army facilities, while some media outlets speak of the Israeli army reaching 5 kilometers from Damascus.
The claimed aim of Israeli incursions into Syria is prevention of rise of threats to its security, especially from the Golan Heights. Israeli experts claim that Tel Aviv is worried about the consequences of the security and political vacuum left by fall of al-Assad. But what we have been seeing since the fall of the government in Damascus is beyond these Israeli allegations. In fact, the Israeli occupation of southern Syria is expanding with complete freedom, while in recent days the new Syrian rulers have not shown any meaningful or effective response to the occupation of parts of Syria by Israeli forces.
Internal grounds of clashes
Colonel Ismail Ayoub, a military expert, told Khaleej Online that most of the present opponents of the new government are remnants of al-Assad government who have experience in fighting and from this aspect, they have upper military hand over the new government's forces. However, there are various reasons behind the eruption of protests in Syria:
Economic crisis: After the fall of al-Assad government, the economic situation in Syria has been severely disrupted. Despite al-Jolani’s promises for economic improvements, the UN office warned of a sharp increase in food prices and a shortage of wheat and flour in the country. According to the report, internal unrest in Syria has negatively affected the process of obtaining and producing wheat and bread. The UN office warned of dangerous threats to food security and public welfare. The report also referred to the increase in costs in Syria and food shortages. The decline in wheat production is clearly visible in the northern and western Syrian fields, especially Idlib and Hama.
Insecurity: The enraging clashes in Syria are one of the aspects of the spread of insecurity in Syria. Despite al-Jolani’s promise to improve the security situation, instability has made the situation much worse. A few weeks ago, informed sources announced that ISIS terrorist elements kidnapped more than 130 people of minorities in different regions. According to this report, ISIS-affiliated media outlets have published images and videos of the hostage-taking of 130 Syrian citizens, including several former military personnel, all of whom are minorities, especially Alawites. ISIS elements have threatened to execute these people. In addition, elements of the ruling government in Damascus have also stirred insecurity by launching western coast offensive. This is while previously, al-Jolani elements had accused al-Assad government of creating insecurity. In other words, al-Jolani government has not only failed to create security in the past three months, but also its unsuccessful performance has led to the spread of insecurity in the already crisis-hit country.
Massive crackdown on protests: The dealing of the al-Jolani’s forces with the protests have mainly revolved around suppression and crackdown. In the recent protests, the Alawites have been put under a severe pressure. The Alawites under crackdown are now led by Ghiath Suleiman Dalla, a former brigadier general of al-Assad government. He vowed to liberate Syria from the yoke of the al-Jolani rule. Over the past few days, over 100 Alawites have lost their lives as a result of the al-Jolani forces' attacks, and it seems that widening the crackdown will likewise increase the discontent.
