Syria has been hit by its worst bloodshed in months, with over 200 people killed overnight in the country, as government forces clash with troops loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, reports the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Fighting erupted Thursday when government forces tried to arrest a suspect near Jableh to be ambushed by Assad supporters. Government-backed forces then, in apparent retaliation, laid siege to the villages of Sheer, Beihakah and Mukhtariyeh and Haffah and killed 69 men. The second wave of attacks in Baniyas said to have killed another 60 dead including women and children.
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa called on his forces to respect human rights and fight in a humane way avoiding civilian casualties. “We degrade ourselves to the same level as our enemy when we weaken our ethics,” he said in a video message. 
The government meanwhile has sent reinforcements to Latakia and Tartus areas that still remain under control of Assad forces. Russian Foreign Ministry has called for the de-escalation, saying that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria should be respected.
With curfews in effect, a continued situation of chaos in major coastal districts, the analysts speculate about possible cycles of sectarian strife. Damascus witnessed public support demonstrations for the new government, nevertheless, fears for long-term stability persist as Syria attempts to navigate its post-Assad trajectory.
