Syrian authorities regain control over most areas in clashes with Assad loyalists

The Syrian Defense Ministry and General Security Administration on Saturday regained control over most areas that had been destabilized in recent days by forces loyal to deposed former leader Bashar Assad, according to official media reports.

“We have restored control over most areas that were affected by the crimes and chaos caused by remnants of the former regime,” official Syrian news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry source as saying.

In coordination with the General Security Administration, the ministry has closed roads leading to the restive coastal region "to maintain order, prevent further violations, and ensure the gradual return of stability,” according to the source.

Additionally, a General Security Administration source told SANA that over 200 stolen vehicles have been recovered from the city of Jableh in the coastal Latakia province and surrounding areas.

These vehicles were taken by opportunists exploiting the instability caused by the actions of the former regime’s loyalists, the source said.

The source also confirmed that "a significant number of looters" have been arrested.

SANA reported that security forces seized "various weapons and ammunition" in a hideout used by the former regime’s remnants in Latakia without providing further details.

Earlier on Saturday, intense clashes erupted between Syrian government forces and remnants of the ousted Assad regime after their fighters targeted hospitals in the northwestern city of Latakia.

"The remnants of the fallen regime have launched an attack on the National Hospital in Latakia, and public security forces are countering it,” SANA quoted a security source in Latakia as saying.

Attacks on hospitals

Syrian state TV reported that violent clashes also broke out between the Syrian army and remnants of the ousted regime around Ibn Sina Hospital in Latakia.

Escalating attacks on hospitals across the Latakia and Tartus governorates in western Syria have resulted in casualties, said the Syrian Health Ministry on Friday.

“Six hospitals in the rural areas of Latakia and Tartus were directly attacked by remnants of the fallen regime last night, leading to the martyrdom of several individuals, the injury of others, and significant damage to infrastructure,” SANA quoted the ministry’s media office as saying.

The ministry called the targeting of hospitals a "crime against humanity.”

The Syrian Defense Ministry also reported late Friday that it had foiled an attack by remnants of the ousted regime on the Syrian Navy command in Latakia.

For the past three days, the coastal region of Syria has been in a heightened state of security tension following attacks by former regime elements on security patrols, which have resulted in the death of 11 members of the Syrian army.

Gayyas Delle, commander of part of the deposed regime forces who was involved in ambushing security forces, announced the formation of a military council to overthrow the government.

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period on Jan. 29.