- 8 Mar 2025 - 15:44(15:44 GMT)
Here’s what happened today
We’ll be closing this live page soon, so let’s bring you up to speed with some of today’s main developments:
- Hundreds of people, many of them civilians, have been killed in parts of northwestern Syria as fighting between security forces and Bashar al-Assad loyalists continues.
- Government forces are in full control of the city centres of Latakia, Baniyas, Jableh and Tartous, where heavy clashes have been taking place since Thursday, our colleagues in Syria report.
- However, the situation remains precarious as the fighting is now expected to be concentrated on mountainous areas in the region.
- Footage of civilians being killed is emerging as the government promises to hold accountable those responsible.
- The violence is the most serious challenge to the new Syrian government’s authority since it took power in December.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 15:20(15:20 GMT)
Red Cross calls for ‘safe access’ for health workers
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it is “extremely concerned” by the violence in Latakia and Tartous governorates.
In a statement posted on X, the aid organisation urged all parties to “ensure unimpeded access to health care and protection of medical facilities”.
“First responders and humanitarian workers must be allowed safe access to provide medical aid and to transport the wounded and dead,” it added.
The @ICRC is extremely concerned by the reports of violence in the coastal area of Syria. We urge all actors involved to respect civilian lives & ensure access to first responders/ humanitarian workers so they can provide medical aid & transport the wounded & dead.@SSakalianICRC pic.twitter.com/Ld3JRaphWZ
— ICRC Syria (@ICRC_sy) March 8, 2025
Advertisement - 8 Mar 2025 - 15:05(15:05 GMT)
Photos: Tensions rise in Syria
Security reinforcements deploy in Latakia on Friday [Omar Albam/AP Photo] 
Smoke rises from a factory hit during clashes in the outskirts of Latakia on Friday [Omar Albam/AP Photo] 
Syrian forces are deployed amid heightened security in Damascus on Friday [Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo] - 8 Mar 2025 - 14:50(14:50 GMT)
Kuwait, Bahrain express support for Syrian government
Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed support for Syria’s interim government and its efforts “to protect its national security and stability”.
“Kuwait’s strongly condemns the crimes committed by outlaws in Syria and their targeting of security forces and state institutions,” the Kuwait News Agency cited the Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry also condemned “the crimes committed by outlaw groups in Syria, including attacks on security forces and attempts to destabilize security and civil peace”.
The Bahrain News Agency quoted the ministry as saying that it supports the Syrian government in safeguarding the country’s security, stability and territorial integrity.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 14:35(14:35 GMT)
UN Syria envoy ‘deeply alarmed’ by violence
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen says he is “deeply alarmed” by reports of clashes and civilian killings in coastal areas.
“While the situation remains fluid and we are still determining the precise facts, there is clearly an immediate need for restraint from all parties, and full respect for the protection of civilians in accordance with international law,” Pedersen said in a statement.
“All parties should refrain from actions that could further inflame tensions, escalate conflict, exacerbate the suffering of affected communities, destabilize Syria, and jeopardize a credible and inclusive political transition.”
.@GeirOPedersen is deeply alarmed by reports of intense clashes and killings in coastal areas, including between Syrian Caretaker Authority forces and elements loyal to the former regime, with very troubling reports of civilian casualties. https://t.co/1AffOnXprH
— UN Special Envoy for Syria (@UNEnvoySyria) March 7, 2025
- 8 Mar 2025 - 14:20(14:20 GMT)
Security convoys enter Qardaha
Reinforcements have arrived in the town of Qardaha, in the Latakia countryside, videos on Telegram show.
In the footage posted by local groups and verified by Al Jazeera, several convoys and foot soldiers can be seen entering the town in support of forces fighting al-Assad loyalists.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 14:05(14:05 GMT)
‘Lack of reconciliation the key issue’
We have some more comments from Rob Geist Pinfold, the lecturer in international security at King’s College London.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said “the lack of reconciliation” in Syria following al-Assad’s overthrow “is the key issue here”.
“It also explains why so many thousands of Sunni men came from different parts to attack these insurgents,” Geist Pinfold added, noting that this gave the government an additional problem on top of tackling the pro-Assad remnants who launched the attacks and ambushes.
“There has been no accountability for what happened during the al-Assad regime, so people are taking the law into their own hands,” he said.
“Whereas what we would want to see would be, for example, the pursuit of justice against key figures of the Assad regime who carried out atrocities, we are unfortunately seeing a trend where one community is turning against another because it sees that entire community as complicit.”
Geist Pinfold the lack of focus towards an actual state-sponsored reconciliation could be “because reconciliation is a Pandora’s box – you don’t know what forces of sentiments you are going to unleash”.
He argued there are “very few innocent parties and actors” in Syria today after 14 years of war.
“So, I think the government preferred to tread lightly and use reconciliatory language without doing much to promote reconciliation. That is going to have to change if we want to see an avoidance of the large-scale sectarian violence that we’ve seen in Syria in the last couple of days.”
- 8 Mar 2025 - 13:50(13:50 GMT)
‘A long time coming’
Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in international security at King’s College London, says the current situation “has been unfortunately snowballing for some time”.
“We know that a group calling itself the Syrian Popular Resistance announced its presence in Syria on Telegram in December of last year,” he told Al Jazeera, describing it as a “very small group of individuals – mainly former Assad regime special forces”.
“We have seen a slow, drip by drip, number of casualties and attacks claimed by the Syrian Popular Resistance. On the other hand we’ve also seen extrajudicial killings,” Geist Pinfold added, noting that the vast majority of the victims of these killings were from the Alawite community.
“So, this descent into sectarianism has been a long time coming,” he added. “It was actually quite impressive that the new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa has managed to keep a lid on things until now – but their bluff has been very much called. They now need to respond, they need to respond decisively, they need to show that they are the ones in charge, but they also need to do so without alienating the Alawites.”
Advertisement - 8 Mar 2025 - 13:36(13:36 GMT)
Fighting ongoing in outskirts as security forces gain control of main coastal cities
Security forces have taken control of the cities of Latakia, Baniyas, Tartous and Jableh, as fighting with Alawite groups continues in the outskirts.
Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said “clashes from now on are likely to be confined to the mountainous areas of Latakia”.
While the fate of dozens of people who took shelter in the Russian airbase in the Khmeimim base remains unknown, it is becoming increasingly clear that the fighting has taken a heavy toll.
“Hundreds of people have been killed and the majority of them are civilians,” Serdar said.
The government said it was closing roads and sending more security forces to protect the population.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 13:00(13:00 GMT)
Syria clashes may be a sign of worse to come
The battles between Syria’s security forces and Alawite groups point to the chaos that still reigns in parts of Syria, according to Century International fellow Aron Lund.
“The Syrian coast is a very fragile place, with sectarian hatred, a legacy of brutal conflict and weapons everywhere,” Lund told Al Jazeera.
“The new al-Sharaa regime is weak and depends on security forces that are only partly under its control and that are full of anti-Alawi chauvinists,” he argued, adding that “unrepentant ex-regime Alawi figures [are] provoking clashes and stoking more violence”, leaving civilians in the crossfire.
“This round of fighting will probably be brought under control, but it’s perhaps a sign of worse to come,” Lund added.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 12:40(12:40 GMT)
If you’re just joining us
Let’s bring you up to speed with the main developments:
- Hundreds of people, including civilians, have been reported killed as intense battles between government forces and al-Assad loyalists continue in parts of northwestern Syria.
- Government forces say they are in control of Latakia and Tartous but security operations continue.
- Security reinforcements have arrived in the coastal towns of Jableh and Baniyas as government forces seek to restore stability.
- Syrian security forces, meanwhile, have closed all roads leading to the coast.
- Dozens of Syrians have taken shelter at a Russian airbase in Latakia, including civilians and former members of the al-Assad government and their families.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 12:25(12:25 GMT)
Security reinforcements arrive in Jableh, Baniyas
In a message posted on Telegram, the Latakia governorate says reinforcements have arrived in the coastal city of Jableh to maintain security, restore stability and preserve public and private property.
Separately, Syria’s state news agency SANA said a convoy from the General Security Administration has entered the coastal city of Baniyas in Tartous governorate to maintain security and protect property.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 12:10(12:10 GMT)
Roads leading to Syria’s coast closed
Syrian security forces have closed all roads leading to coastal cities.
Authorities said the decision was aimed at controlling violations, preventing transgressions and restoring stability to the area.
(Al Jazeera) - 8 Mar 2025 - 11:55(11:55 GMT)
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation resumes Syria’s membership
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has announced the resumption of Syria’s membership, 13 years after it was suspended following the eruption of war in the wake of al-Assad’s crackdown on antigovernment protests.
A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said the decision “represents a vital step toward Syria’s return to the regional and international communities as a free and just state”.
The OIC also condemned Israel’s military operations in Syria, which it said constituted a “blatant violation of international law and an assault on Syrian sovereignty.”
- 8 Mar 2025 - 11:40(11:40 GMT)
European officials urge restraint, call for peaceful resolution
We also have some comments from European officials reacting to the events in Syria.
Michael Ohnmacht, the charge d’affaires of the European Union mission to Syria, called on all parties to exercise “restraint” and ensure the right of the Syrian people to live in safety and peace.
Germany’s envoy to Syria expressed shock at the many victims in western Syria and called for peaceful solutions, unity and comprehensive dialogue as well as transitional justice.
Stefan Schneck also said his country was ready to provide assistance wherever it could.
- 8 Mar 2025 - 11:25(11:25 GMT)
Iran concerned over Syria’s volatile security situation
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has said Tehran is closely monitoring developments in Syria and remained concerned by the spread of violence and insecurity in various parts of the country.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, recalling the responsibilities of the interim government in ensuring the security of all Syrian citizens, is strongly opposed to insecurity, violence, killing and harming innocent Syrian people from every group and tribe,” Baghaei said in a statement.
The spokesman added that stability in Syria was necessary to maintain the country’s territorial integrity, as Israel continues its military operations.
Israel carried out air raids in several parts of Syria, including the Mediterranean port city of Tartous earlier this week, and seized Syrian territory in the area of Mount Hermon.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei [File: Atta Kenare/AFP] Advertisement - 8 Mar 2025 - 11:10(11:10 GMT)
Unity must be priority in al-Sharaa’s interim government
Barakat says unity must be “priority number one” for Syria’s interim government.
The new administration “started off with a blanket amnesty to everyone who laid down their weapons”, the university lecturer told Al Jazeera.
“That worked for several weeks, but then there was a witch-hunt operation seeking out individuals connected to big [Alawite] families. They all retreated to the coastal areas, and they must feel threatened.”
Barakat added: “If the unity of Syria is priority number one – and this does not only apply to the Alawite but to the Druze and the Kurds as well – then there should be a special effort to [engage in political dialogue with] those people.”
- 8 Mar 2025 - 10:55(10:55 GMT)
GCC condemns violence ‘aimed at destabilising Syria’
The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has condemned the latest clashes “aimed at destabilising Syria”.
“We affirm the Council’s support for Syria in the efforts and measures it takes to maintain the security and stability of its people,” Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi said.
“We look forward to security and stability prevailing in Syria under the rule of law and justice.”
Army personnel gather in Aleppo to join the fight against groups linked to al-Assad [Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters] - 8 Mar 2025 - 10:40(10:40 GMT)
Dozens take shelter in Russian airbase in Latakia
While government forces move to secure the coastal areas, dozens of people have taken shelter in the Russian airbase in the Khmeimim base, in Latakia region.
The group, which includes civilians and former members of the al-Assad government and their families, waited hours before Russian forces allowed them to enter.
It remains unclear what will happen next, including whether those sheltering at the base are going to be evacuated elsewhere.
A Syrian fighter near the entrance of Hmeimim airbase in Syria’s Latakia on December 14, 2024 [File: Umit Bektas/Reuters]
Syria updates: Gov’t forces battle al-Assad loyalists; hundreds killed
Transitional government imposes curfew and deploys reinforcements as battles continue in parts of northwestern Syria.
Dozens killed in Syria after Assad loyalists ambush government forces
Published On 8 Mar 2025
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- Intense battles between Syrian transitional government forces and fighters loyal to removed leader Basher al-Assad continue in parts of northwestern Syria.
- Hundreds of people, including civilians, have been reported killed in the deadliest violence since opposition fighters toppled al-Assad in a lightning offensive last year.
- It comes after clashes erupted on Thursday following a series of attacks and ambushes in Latakia and Tartous governorates, home to the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs.
- Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who commanded the rebel-led alliance that removed al-Assad, has told the fighters to “lay down their weapons and surrender”, saying anyone who attacks civilians will be held accountable.
- His government has imposed a curfew and deployed reinforcements.