Military Operation Launched to Pursue Assad Regime Militias in Tartus

ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Directorate of Military Operations, has launched a large-scale operation in Tartus Province to "pursue remnants of militias loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad."

According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the operation, carried out on Thursday, December 26, 2024, has led to the arrest of several members of pro-Assad militias accused of destabilizing the region.

The development follows violent clashes in the Khirbet al-Mazzeh area on Wednesday, which resulted in casualties and injuries, alongside unprecedented protests in predominantly Alawite areas. The protests reflect growing discontent within the community traditionally associated with the Assad regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that key figures linked to the former regime were among those detained as part of an ongoing crackdown following Wednesday’s bloodshed.

Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman announced on Wednesday that 14 police officers were killed and 10 others injured in an ambush by remnants of the Assad regime in rural Tartus.

In a press statement, the minister described the attack as a "terrorist act" carried out by "elements of the former regime attempting to undermine security efforts." He stated that the officers were performing their duties to "maintain public safety and protect civilians" when they were ambushed.

Abdul Rahman affirmed that the military operation would continue "until all threats posed by these rogue groups are eliminated."

Tartus Province, traditionally considered a stronghold of the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs, has seen rare public demonstrations against deteriorating security and economic conditions. Protesters have blamed remnants of the former regime for ongoing instability, signaling a shift in sentiment within the regime's historical support base.

Observers view the military campaign as part of the transitional government’s broader efforts to restore stability and assert control over areas previously dominated by unregulated armed factions. It also aims to reassure local populations in regions long affected by unchecked militia influence.

As the operation unfolds, Tartus remains in the spotlight, serving as a litmus test for the new government’s ability to confront the challenges of the post-Assad transitional phase and deliver on its promises of security and governance.

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