Syrian security forces executed 69 members of the Alawite minority in western Syria following deadly clashes with what was claimed to be "gunmen loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad", the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

The Britain-based war monitor reported Friday that at least 147 people had been killed since the fighting erupted Thursday, marking the fiercest challenge to the new authorities since the toppling of the Assad regime in December.

The executions took place in the towns of al-Shir and al-Mukhtariya in the Latakia countryside. Verified videos and testimonies from relatives of the deceased confirmed the killings, the Observatory said.

Footage released by activists and the Observatory showed dozens of civilian-clothed bodies piled in a yard, with bloodstains visible and women wailing nearby. Another video depicted armed men ordering three individuals to crawl on the ground before executing them at close range. A third clip showed a soldier shooting a man in the doorway of a building. 

A source in Syria’s Interior Ministry, quoted by state news agency SANA, acknowledged the so-called “individual violations” but pledged to end them. "After remnants of the toppled regime assassinated security personnel, unorganized masses responded, leading to violations," the source stated. "We are working to stop these acts, which do not represent the Syrian people as a whole."

Curfews imposed in several areas

Following Thursday’s clashes—which left 78 dead, including 37 security personnel, 34 gunmen, and seven civilians—the new authorities imposed curfews in Latakia, Tartus, and Homs, three regions with significant Alawite populations. Security forces launched a crackdown targeting “remnants of Assad’s militias and their supporters,” an official cited by SANA said.

One key operation took place in Qardaha, al-Assad’s hometown, where new authorities claimed they had detained General Ibrahim Huweija. In Jableh, another coastal town, a large-scale security sweep was underway, according to defense ministry spokesman Colonel Hassan Abdulghani, with several videos of summary executions surfacing online.

Local residents described an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. “All night, we heard gunfire and explosions,” said Ali, a farmer in Jableh. "Everyone's afraid... we're trapped at home and can’t go out."

Tensions escalated after gunmen loyal to former Assad-era special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan clashed with security forces in Beit Ana. When security personnel attempted to arrest a suspected arms dealer, they met resistance from local residents, leading to heavy fighting. In response, security forces conducted helicopter strikes, triggering protests from Alawite community leaders who condemned the attacks on civilian homes.

Protests and calls for Russian intervention

The violence has sparked protests among the Alawite community in Tartus and Latakia, with demonstrators gathering outside the Russian military base in Hmeimim. Protesters called for Russian intervention to protect the sect and urged Moscow to take the matter to the UN Security Council.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent highlighted the growing sectarian mobilization, stating that tensions continue to escalate as clashes persist in rural areas of Latakia and Tartus between the Ministry of Defense, General Security, and armed groups. These confrontations have largely spared major urban centers.

Our correspondent added that while the cities of Tartus, Latakia, and Baniyas remain under the control of military operations authorities, some neighborhoods in Jableh and Qardaha remain outside government control.

Since early morning, dozens of military convoys have been deployed to the coastal region, only to fall into ambushes, further intensifying the conflict. Meanwhile, clashes spread to Homs on Thursday night, with targeted attacks on Alawite neighborhoods, including footage of direct strikes on residential homes.

Warnings against sectarian incitement