Hugo Bechega

Exactly. And this started yesterday. What we're hearing is that there was a significant military operation targeting an official from the Assad government in Latakia. This is a region on the Mediterranean coast in Syria. And government forces were then ambushed by fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad. This led to some violent clashes. Confrontations then spread to other parts of the region.

Exactly. And this started yesterday. What we're hearing is that there was a significant military operation targeting an official from the Assad government in Latakia. This is a region on the Mediterranean coast in Syria. And government forces were then ambushed by fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad. This led to some violent clashes. Confrontations then spread to other parts of the region.

And what we're seeing today is this massive response by the authorities. Reinforcements with possibly hundreds of security forces have been sent from other parts of the country to coastal areas of Syria. Now there is a curfew until tomorrow. in both Latakia and Tartus, two major cities on the coast. And again, this is a stronghold of the Assad family.

And what we're seeing today is this massive response by the authorities. Reinforcements with possibly hundreds of security forces have been sent from other parts of the country to coastal areas of Syria. Now there is a curfew until tomorrow. in both Latakia and Tartus, two major cities on the coast. And again, this is a stronghold of the Assad family.

So a snapshot of the tensions in Syria, a country that remains deeply divided.

So a snapshot of the tensions in Syria, a country that remains deeply divided.

Yeah, I don't think it's a surprise that we're seeing these clashes. I was in Damascus earlier this year, and I met several high-level security officials in the new administration.

Yeah, I don't think it's a surprise that we're seeing these clashes. I was in Damascus earlier this year, and I met several high-level security officials in the new administration.

And what they told me is that this was one of their main security challenges in the country, the resistance of Assad loyalists and the possibility that they could try to mount some kind of insurgency against the new leaders of the country. So I think it was almost inevitable. that we would see some kind of violence, especially in that part of the country.

And what they told me is that this was one of their main security challenges in the country, the resistance of Assad loyalists and the possibility that they could try to mount some kind of insurgency against the new leaders of the country. So I think it was almost inevitable. that we would see some kind of violence, especially in that part of the country.

I think this is a very serious challenge for the interim president, Ahmed Alshara. He's trying to consolidate his authority across the country. There are many parts of Syria that are not controlled by his forces, by, you know, the government in Damascus. So I think a lot of people will be paying attention to this reaction from the security forces that's happening now in those parts of Syria.

I think this is a very serious challenge for the interim president, Ahmed Alshara. He's trying to consolidate his authority across the country. There are many parts of Syria that are not controlled by his forces, by, you know, the government in Damascus. So I think a lot of people will be paying attention to this reaction from the security forces that's happening now in those parts of Syria.