ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The European Union says it “strongly condemns” deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s loyalists for attacking security forces of the new Damascus administration.
Bloody clashes erupted on Thursday after loyalists of Assad attacked security forces in the country’s western coastal region, prompting a violent response from the new Damascus authorities.
"The European Union strongly condemns the recent attacks, reportedly by pro-Assad elements, on interim government forces in the coastal areas of Syria and all violence against civilians,” the EU said in a statement on Saturday. "Civilians have to be protected in all circumstances in full respect of international humanitarian law.
A Syrian war monitor said Saturday that security forces killed 745 Alawite civilians over the past three days.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the latest deaths among Alawite civilians pushed the overall toll since Thursday to 1,018, as fighting killed 125 security personnel and 148 fighters loyal to ousted Assad.
Syria’s western coastal region is heavily populated by the members of the Alawite minority - an ethno-religious group closely associated with the Assad family. Hundreds have been killed for their religious affiliations in “acts of retaliation” across Syria since the start of 2025.
The EU also calls on "all external actors to fully respect the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria.
"The EU condemns any attempts to undermine stability and the prospects for a lasting peaceful transition, inclusive and respectful of all Syrians in their diversity."
Syria’s recently-appointed interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday delivered a speech amid the rising escalations, describing the loyalists’ attacks as “an unforgivable sin” and calling on them to surrender “before it is too late.”
Syria’s Defense Ministry on Saturday announced that they were “closing roads leading to the coast and returning people not assigned to military tasks,” adding that soldiers and security personnel who overstepped instructions during the recent military operation will be referred to martial court.
Syria’s sharp escalations come as Jordan will host regional countries in Amman on Sunday to discuss “practical strategies” for collaboration in the fight against terrorism, smuggling of weapons and drugs, and other pressing issues, including the most recent developments in Syria.
An 11-day sweeping rebel offensive spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who currently acts as the country’s interim president, brought a five-decade-long rule of the Assad family to an end on December 8.
Since Assad's toppling, Syria has seen clashes in regions that were once the deposed president's stronghold, often blamed on Assad supporters. The new Damascus authorities have launched several operations in the course of the past three months, targeting "regime remnants" and making arrests.
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