Attacks by Assad`s remnants in Syria, events and repercussions

Operations Against the General Security Forces on the Coastal region

On March 6 and for three days, Syria faced the most significant security challenge since its liberation from Assad regime, as remnants of Assad regime, originating from various villages in the coastal region launched a coordinated attack against the General Security Forces. The assault began in the villages of Beit Ana, Hmeimim, and Qardaha, and swiftly spread to Jableh, where the northern neighborhoods of Naqaa and Al-Jubaybat, along with the eastern neighborhoods of Al-Tadamon and Al-Amara, became embroiled in violence. Faced with this growing threat, the residents of Jableh declared a general mobilization, arming themselves with whatever means they could find and fortifying the city until reinforcements could arrive. They protected each other’s and the wounded security forces as much as they could.

While the news of what was perceived as an attempted coup spread on social media, reports of besieged General Security forces and civilians in hospitals further fueled the sectarian tension. In response, factions from across Syria mobilized to the coast to confront the remanence of the old regime. 

The Ministry of Defense forces had limited presence in the area, as its forces were engaged in other missions to provide security across the country. 

The attacks in the coastal area was led by several known criminal figures in Assad regime army that committed many atrocities against civilians and apparently realized that the only way to escape accountability is by creating chaos, and change the prospect of a White Coup accomplished by Al-Sharaa forces in 8th of December. These leaders are:

 1) Muqdad Fatiha, the commander of the Coastal Shield Brigade, had a notorious past with the “Republican Guard”, where he was linked to brutal tactics during the revolution. He had previously issued threats to the Alawite community, warning them of dire consequences if they failed to align against the new Sunni state which he declares as a threat.

2)Ghiath Suleiman Dala, commander of the “Ghaith Forces” within the Fourth Division of the 42nd Brigade and a close ally of Maher al-Assad, played a crucial role in launching the so-called Military Council for the Liberation of Syria on March 6.

3)Muhammad Mahrez Jaber, a commander from the Desert Falcons Forces who had worked in collaboration with Russian forces to protect Syria’s oil fields, joined this alliance.

In the midst of this turmoil, alarming footage surfaced, showing civilian casualties in Alawite villages, particularly in Baniyas, adding to the confusion and fear that a sectarian war could erupt as a result in Syria. While the intervention of the Syrian regular forces was crucial in halting the chaos and any civilians’ killings but still, they were blamed of taking too long to arrive to these areas.

This orchestrated attacks marked a pivotal moment in Syria after the collapse of Al-Assad regime in the 8th of December 2024 a day that passed without bloodshed, but with this operation old wounds where opened and new ones created. 

Domestic Responses and ramification to Syria’s Coastal Crisis:

During these events, President Ahmed al-Sharaa took center stage to manage the crisis, in a series of public addresses, he called for national unity, condemned the violations, and announced the formation of a fact-finding committee to ensure accountability for all the civilians’ deaths. Furthermore, he reached out to the families of the victims, promising decisive actions against those responsible. The committee promised to present its discoveries after 30 days, and to seek witnesses under witness protection act.

Nevertheless, the events exposed serious flaws in Al-Sharaa’s governance approach, particularly the famous policy of "Go, you are free" to the old regime forces, which came under scrutiny. Many of the attackers arrested during the crisis were found to be carrying settlement cards after presumably laying their arms, which fueled fear and anxiety among citizens, as well as Al-Sharaa's close supporters, who were increasingly alarmed by what they perceived as leniency in holding the old regime war criminals accountable. 

This hesitation in addressing the accountability question of Al-assad era and the delay in the formation of a national unity government left Al-Sharaa personally accountable for the fallout, a situation that could have long-term political consequences if not resolved.

Another problem was the lack of an official media presence to report on the unfolding crisis. People relied on informal communication channels from social media accounts and pages of reporters on the ground. The only formal communication channel was the military spokesman on social media. This created confusion and led to an information vacuum that further undermined the government's ability to manage public perception effectively, especially with the flood of disinformation during these days.

External Influences and International Dynamics

Beyond domestic responses, the events underscored the direct role of external actors in the recent events. Iran was the main actor to be blamed in supporting the operation in the coastal area, through its regional proxies, even though Al-Sharaa never referred directly to Iran or to any other external actor. A key geopolitical goal of these external interventions was to isolate Syria’s coastal region, and to present the current government in Damascus as weak and has military opposition, but these attacks on security personnel and hospitals and even civilians ended up creating havoc and very fast lost military and politically.

The presence of Russian military forces in Syria, particularly at the Hmeimim Air Base complicated the situation when many residences in the attacked villages escaped to Hmeimim, some of them were perceived as part of the attacks against the Syrian forces. While it remains unclear whether Russia played a direct role in the recent attacks, this have clearly contributed negatively to a stable relationship between Moscow and Damascus. Especially after what is circulating that in Hmeimim military base there were signatures gathered from civilians calling for Russian protection of the Alawites which many views it as an attempt to shift the balance of power in Syria using the minorities.

Also, the involvement of former Syrian officers in organizing covert operations across Syria’s borders especially with Lebanon has added another layer of complexity to an already complicated relation. 

The responses of the Arab and international community have shaped the narrative surrounding recent events. Arab and Gulf states have voiced their support for Al-Sharaa and the Syrian state stability during these attacks, signaling confidence that the situation will stabilize. Also, the European Union has taken a supportive approach to the Syrian state and blamed the remnants of Assad's regime for the recent attacks in the coastal area.

Violations and Accountability

Reports from witnesses in Homs, Tartous, and Latakia reveal a multifaceted picture of violence, with multiple factions, including armed civilians and foreign fighters, playing significant roles in the attacks. The violence was fueled by sectarian tensions that needed years to heal from Al-Assad family sectarian policies to rule over the country for decades.

The alleged mention of participation of military factions like the “Amshat” and “Hamzat” in the violence, which had previously joined the Syrian army, if correct will need a decisive action from the president who vowed  that all will be accountable to their actions.

Looking Forward: Political and Security Implications

As Syria navigates these turbulent waters, the continued involvement of foreign and regional actors, the proliferation of arms, and the resurgence of sectarian tensions—long dormant but now reemerging—will continue to challenge stability. While Syrians may not be able to directly influence the policies of other countries, they still hold the power to shape their future through unity and internal resolve. The path forward lies in strengthening national cohesion and working toward resolving the issues they can control.

For President Al-Sharaa, his swift actions to halt the attacks by remnants of the Assad regime and stop the senseless killing of civilians were critical in restoring order and bringing the coastal region back to some semblance of normalcy. His ability to confront the immediate military threat was pivotal, but the real challenge lies in addressing the underlying sectarian tensions that these events have exacerbated. Al-Sharaa has begun to tackle this with legal and governmental measures, but Syrians, will wait for full accountability to overcome this sensitive stage, this includes Alawait and Sunni communities, and includes recent and past crimes during Al-Assad rule. Whoever understand what happened during these fourteen years, will understand that many Syrians carry significant grievances and it will take years of discoveries and legal actions against war criminals, and numerous rounds of national dialogue to heal the wounds and rebuild trust between the divided communities.

The president was able to show ability of winning over military confrontation and that he has widespread support from all cities, maybe these days recalled the fear of his previous personality, while Al-Sharaa was presenting a conciliatory approach. In fact, these attacks by Assad remanence would have been minor, if the civilian deaths didn’t happen, and the victory would have been balanced with a powerful image of control. Nevertheless, Al-Sharaa was able to maintain moral and quickly make critical decisions, such as the deal with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that provided a moment of victory during otherwise dark days. This demonstrated his capacity to lead under pressure, fostering a renewed sense of hope that he could steer the country toward a better future.

Furthermore, what these events showed is that The President needs to present an effective, accountable government—one that shares responsibility and works together toward rebuilding Syria's institutions. Only a cohesive, well-functioning government can make informed, logical decisions that are both effective and transparent, aligning with the complex challenges of the current moment. The road ahead will not be easy, but the collective will of the Syrian people may still hold the key to overcoming the country’s tumultuous past and reshape its future.