Curfew extended in Latakia, Tartus as Syria pursues remnants of ousted Assad regime

Authorities extended the curfew in Latakia and Tartus, two cities in northwest Syria, on Friday and initiated large-scale security operations in urban centers, villages, and nearby mountains. The move aims to track down remnants of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime.

The decision follows heightened security tensions in the coastal region, where former regime elements have attacked security patrols and checkpoints, leading to casualties.

On Thursday evening, Syria’s General Security Administration imposed a curfew on Tartus, Homs, and Latakia until Friday morning. A senior security official confirmed the curfew extension in Latakia and Tartus on Friday, according to Syria’s official news agency, SANA.

While the agency did not specify the exact duration of the extended curfew, local media reports indicated it would last until noon local time (0900GMT).

Security forces have launched widespread search operations across urban centers, villages, and the mountainous areas surrounding Latakia and Tartus. A security source told SANA that efforts to apprehend the remnants of the ousted regime would be intensified. Those wishing to surrender their weapons have been instructed to go to nearby security checkpoints.

Pursuing Assad regime loyalists

Meanwhile, the governorate of Tartus announced that Ministry of Defense forces had arrived to support local security forces in their pursuit of Assad’s regime loyalists.

“The convoys of Ministry of Defense forces entered the city of Banias to track down the remnants of the fallen regime,” said the Tartus governorate in a statement.

The recent attack by forces loyal to the ousted Assad regime in the Jableh district of Latakia province resulted in the deaths of 11 Syrian army personnel.

Gayyas Delle, commander of the deposed regime’s Gays Forces and responsible for ambushing security forces, announced the creation of a military council aimed at overthrowing the current government.

Since Assad’s regime fell, military authorities have set up reconciliation centers for former loyalists to surrender their weapons. However, some factions have refused to comply, leading to clashes in several provinces.

Assad, who led Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, marking the end of the Baath Party’s rule that had lasted since 1963.

On Jan. 29, Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the anti-regime forces that ousted Assad, was declared president for a transitional period.