Arabic version: سوريا تواجه تصاعد العنف من موالي الأسد وهجمات داعش

Clashes between Syrian internal security forces and a militia linked to the ousted government of Bashar al-Assad have left at least four people dead in the Alawite-majority coastal province of Latakia. The fighting erupted on Tuesday west of the village of Hamam al-Qarahleh as security forces responded to reports of an attack by members of the “Saraya al-Jawad” (al-Jawad Brigades), a shadowy armed group linked to regime remnants. According to Al Jazeera, the confrontation resulted in the death of at least one member of the Internal Security Forces, while security units managed to neutralize a top commander of the militia along with two of his associates.

The emergence of Saraya al-Jawad signifies a shift from disorganized loyalist resistance to a more organized rebellion in the coastal heartland, traditionally a stronghold of the al-Assad family. Formed in August 2025, the militia is reportedly loyal to Suheil al-Hassan, a brigadier-general from the former regime’s army. The Ministry of Interior has accused the group of destabilization efforts, including assassinations and bombings.

Simultaneously, ISIL (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on security outposts in Deir Az Zor province, further undermining the fragile stability in Syria. Attacks included an ambush that killed a soldier and two consecutive assaults on a security checkpoint that left four security personnel dead. Interior Minister Anas Khattab linked these incidents to remnants of the previous regime and ISIL, suggesting a coordinated effort to disrupt the country’s security.

Analysts have raised concerns about the suspicious timing of these flare-ups, with some suggesting external manipulation. Brigadier General Munir al-Hariri indicated that external actors, particularly those who have lost influence in Syria, may be mobilizing dormant cells within the former regime’s intelligence apparatus to destabilize the new government. In contrast, political researcher Bassam al-Suleiman attributed the violence to the natural friction of power transitions and the withdrawal of international forces, warning that the Syrian Badia desert could become a haven for regrouping militants if not addressed promptly.