Syria launches security operation in Qardaha after former regime attacks

Syria’s Military Operations Command launched a major security operation in Qardaha, the hometown of the recently ousted Assad family, on Saturday. The operation, which took place in the coastal province of Latakia, targeted former regime elements who refused to surrender their weapons.

The Syrian news agency SANA reported that a large number of security forces participated in the operation, which also involved the use of helicopters. The security sweep came in response to repeated attacks by individuals loyal to the former Baath regime, which fell on December 8.

Sources within the command confirmed to Anadolu that several former regime members were captured during the operation. Despite the regime’s collapse, Qardaha has remained a focal point of tensions, with many former loyalists continuing to resist the new administration’s authority.

Following the fall of the Baath regime, Syria’s new government announced a general amnesty, offering former regime members an opportunity to surrender their weapons and reintegrate into society. Reconciliation centers were established in various provinces to encourage participation in the process.

Similar operations have been carried out in other regions, including the capital Damascus, and the provinces of Tartus and Homs, targeting those who refused to disarm and engage in the reconciliation process.