Syria’s coastal region saw a wave of bloody sectarian violence from 6-10 March, sparked by armed clashes between remnants of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and security forces affiliated with the country’s new rulers. The violence left hundreds of civilians dead, along with dozens of personnel from the new General Security Forces (GSF) and rebels affiliated with the former regime. The death toll exceeded 1,000, making it the deadliest round of violence since the fall of the Assad regime. The episode marks a turning point, but what it means for the country’s future trajectory has yet to be determined by the political forces active in Syria, particularly the new administration led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
