The escalation in serious crimes across several villages and towns in the Latakia and Tartus governorates along the Syrian coast is deeply concerning

More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes in the coastal provinces of Syria, according to one war monitoring group.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has launched an investigation into the deadly clashes in Latakia and Tartous, vowing to hold those responsible for civilian bloodshed accountable. The independent committee will submit its findings within 30 days as the government seeks to prevent further unrest.

For two days, Rihab Kamel and her family hid terrified in their bathroom in the city of Baniyas as armed men stormed the neighbourhood, pursuing members of Syria’s Alawite minority. The coastal city is part of Syria’s Alawite heartland that has been gripped by the fiercest violence since former president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa forms committees to investigate the recent waves of violence between security forces and Alawite loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. View on eurone

In the worst outbreak of unrest since Syria’s transitional government took power, hundreds of people have been killed or wounded in clashes between the security forces and supporters of former President Bashar al Assad this week,

The violence has raised the specter of a larger sectarian conflict in Syria and stoked panic in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.

It accounts for around 10% of Syria's population, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim. Assad belonged to the sect. However, since the civil war intensified, different militant groups have been targeting Alawites for their ties with Assad and his military allies.