Groups of remnants of the Assad regime on the Syrian coast launched attacks against public security forces, members of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, and civilians, resulting in hundreds of casualties. These attacks were not the first of their kind since the fall of the Assad regime, but they were the most violent and widespread to date. They were also the most dangerous due to the sectarian mobilization campaigns that accompanied them and the resulting violations against civilians, according to human rights reports. They also pose a significant risk of spillover into sectarian-based areas within Syria. While the intensity and geographic scope of the clashes have decreased, recent events carry extremely dangerous indicators that require the new administration to take them seriously and take measures to support stability in the coast as part of a roadmap for Syria’s stability.
