The Syrian army has finished its campaign against Assad loyalists, the nation’s defence ministry stated on Monday. The bloody fights between Assad’s supporters and the new Islamist government have killed over 1,000 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians, war monitors said.
Hassan Abdul Ghany, defence ministry spokesman, confirmed the end of the military operation in a X statement. He assured that public institutions had returned to normal and were currently offering vital services.
“We are paving the way for life to return to normal and for the consolidation of security and stability,” Abdul Ghany said. He continued to highlight that the fight would continue against any remaining threats by the former regime.
Syrian Leader Promises Action Against the Perpetrators
Syria’s Islamist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa reiterated his government’s resolve to bring perpetrators of the recent bloodshed to account. “We will pursue the perpetrators of the violent confrontations and hold to account anyone who exceeded our limits,” al-Sharaa told Sunday.
His office further indicated the establishment of an independent commission to probe the recent massacres, to guarantee transparency in pinpointing the culprits from both sides.
Security Forces Welcome Investigation
Abdul Ghany assured cooperation by the Syrian security forces with the investigation, saying they would provide complete access to reveal the conditions of the clashes, verify the facts, and provide justice.
“We were able to absorb the attacks from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We shattered their element of surprise and managed to push them away from vital centres, securing most of the main roads,” he added.
Clashes and Rising Sectarian Violence
Following Assad’s ousting in December, Syria had experienced relative calm. However, recent weeks have seen escalating violence as the new rulers cracked down on insurgent movements linked to the country’s Alawite minority. The situation worsened as revenge attacks targeted Alawites, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam that formed the core of Assad’s support base.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in the UK documented more than 1,000 fatalities over two days of conflict, comprising 745 civilians, 125 security forces, and 148 pro-Assad militias.
Consequences of Assad’s Deposition
Assad went into exile in Russia last year when his government was overthrown by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Sunni Islamist movement under the leadership of al-Sharaa. His exodus was the culmination of decades of repression and a deadly civil war that ravaged Syria.
The recent progress underscores the continuing challenge to achieving enduring peace and stability in the conflict-ravaged nation despite the new administration’s efforts at consolidating authority and averting renewed sectarian conflict.