ALBAWABA- At least 15 General Security personnel were killed in Syria on Thursday after armed groups loyal to the ousted regime ambushed security forces of the new authority on the Baniyas road in Tartous and the Latakia countryside.
The attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the country’s coastal region.
The Director of Security in Latakia confirmed that security forces have fully mobilized in the province and managed to repel an attack by the former regime's militias in the Jableh countryside. However, intense clashes are still ongoing inside the city.
In response, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that "huge" military reinforcements are being deployed to Jableh and its surrounding areas to support the General Security Forces and restore order.
Military units from Aleppo, Hama, and Homs have been dispatched to reinforce security in the coastal cities.
State-run SANA reported that remnants of the ousted regime also attacked a public security checkpoint near Jableh and targeted civilian vehicles.
Security forces have since imposed a security cordon around the villages of Beit Ana and Daliya, aiming to contain the armed groups.
A Syrian security source told Al Jazeera that the government is committed to imposing its authority and will not allow any group to threaten national security. The Ministry of Defense and security forces are conducting field operations to stabilize the region and pursue those responsible for the attacks.
