Syria, March 9 — Aleast 1,018 people have been killed in Syria’s Latakia and Tartous since Thursday, including 745 Alawite civilians, 125 security forces members, and 148 pro-Assad fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The violence erupted after pro-Assad fighters launched coordinated attacks on security forces, triggering retaliatory killings.
Thousands of armed supporters of Syria’s new leadership moved into the coastal areas, intensifying the clashes.
Earlier on Sunday, newly appointed leader Farouk al-Sharaa called for national unity, urging Syrians to "preserve domestic peace" as fighting continues between the new forces and fighters loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.