The recent wave of aggression exemplifies the challenges faced by the new government, revealing weak control over its armed factions and an inability to rein in rival groups.
#Turmoil in Syria: A Struggle for Unity Amidst Violence
#Turmoil in Syria: A Struggle for Unity Amidst Violence
Syria faces renewed instability as violence erupts between government forces and remnants of the Assad regime, highlighting the ongoing struggle for military unity.
In March 2025, a surge of violence in northwestern Syria dramatically highlighted the difficulties of consolidating military forces under the new regime. The brutal attacks, which left hundreds dead, underscore the formidable challenges facing Syria's newly-appointed leadership. Experts now express concern about the government's tenuous grip over an array of armed factions that once battled the Assad administration.
The turmoil erupted on March 6 when insurgents loyal to the ousted Assad regime launched assaults on government troops across key coastal provinces, primarily inhabited by the Alawite community. In response, the government initiated a mobilization of its security forces, which saw participation from other armed groups and civilian militias.
Eyewitness accounts, along with reports from human rights organizations, indicate that fighters—some aligned with the government and others operating independently—launched reprisal attacks across Tartus and Latakia Provinces. These actions included not only targeting suspected insurgents but also widespread assaults on civilian neighborhoods, resulting in looting, arson, and sectarian violence aimed primarily at Alawite residents, a minority group historically linked to the Assad rule.
The violence has stirred deep-rooted sectarian divides, as members of the new government and security forces predominantly hail from Syria's Sunni Muslim majority. In contrast, the civilian casualties primarily involved Alawites, intensifying societal rifts that had long existed during Assad's reign, where Alawites were favored in security and military positions.
As Syrians seek refuge from this latest upheaval—some crossing into Lebanon in search of safety—the question remains whether the new government can transform its lofty rhetoric of military cohesion into a reality for a country still grappling with the vestiges of war.
The turmoil erupted on March 6 when insurgents loyal to the ousted Assad regime launched assaults on government troops across key coastal provinces, primarily inhabited by the Alawite community. In response, the government initiated a mobilization of its security forces, which saw participation from other armed groups and civilian militias.
Eyewitness accounts, along with reports from human rights organizations, indicate that fighters—some aligned with the government and others operating independently—launched reprisal attacks across Tartus and Latakia Provinces. These actions included not only targeting suspected insurgents but also widespread assaults on civilian neighborhoods, resulting in looting, arson, and sectarian violence aimed primarily at Alawite residents, a minority group historically linked to the Assad rule.
The violence has stirred deep-rooted sectarian divides, as members of the new government and security forces predominantly hail from Syria's Sunni Muslim majority. In contrast, the civilian casualties primarily involved Alawites, intensifying societal rifts that had long existed during Assad's reign, where Alawites were favored in security and military positions.
As Syrians seek refuge from this latest upheaval—some crossing into Lebanon in search of safety—the question remains whether the new government can transform its lofty rhetoric of military cohesion into a reality for a country still grappling with the vestiges of war.
