Extension of martial law in Latakia and Tartus provinces, Syria / Saudi Arabia and Turkey condemned the protests

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: The governor of Latakia reported today, Friday, 7 February, that martial law in this province will be extended until 9 am tomorrow, Saturday.

 

The Syrian interim government headed by "Ahmad al-Sharaa" also declared martial law in Tartus province until 10 am tomorrow.

 

Hundreds of Syrians have taken to the squares since Thursday to protest the attacks and violent and terrorist actions of the new government and chanted slogans against the new government.

According to the latest statistics published by the monitoring body, 71 people have been killed in these clashes so far, most of them forces affiliated with al-Jolani.

This comes as the demonstrations of the Syrian people against the increasing human rights violations by the security forces of the Syrian interim government have spread beyond the provinces of Tartus, Latakia and the Syrian coastal region and have spread to the province of Aleppo in northeastern Syria, where people have continued to clash with forces affiliated with al-Jolani.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Ministry today (Friday) reacted to the latest developments in Syria by issuing a statement and condemned the protests of the residents of the Syrian coastal region.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said: The actions of groups outside the framework of the law in Syria in attacking the country's security forces are condemnable and stressed its support for Damascus' efforts to "establish security and stability and maintain internal stability."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also reacted to the recent developments in Syria by issuing a statement today (Friday).

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned “the escalation of tensions in Latakia and the targeting of security forces,” and said that the escalation of tensions in Latakia and the targeting of security forces could undermine efforts to achieve unity, integrity, and solidarity in Syria.

The statement also said: “We will confront all actions that undermine the rights of Syrian citizens to live in peace and prosperity.”

 

Amidst the clashes, the recently established “Islamic Council of Syrian Alawites,” which describes itself as the representative of the Alawite community in Syria, called for peaceful protests against security operations in coastal areas.

The council said in a statement that it had been trying to reach an agreement through negotiations and dialogue since the fall of the previous government, but that their demands for a list of wanted individuals and the possibility of the participation of the elders in the inspection process had been ignored.”

The statement also accused the Golani government security forces of carrying out violent acts, looting people’s property and chanting sectarian slogans. The Alawite Islamic Council called on the people of the coastal areas to gather in public squares and protest “with strength but with tact.” The council also stressed that protesters should not damage public property and should only chant national slogans.

As tensions continue in Latakia, it appears that the security situation in the region is continuing to deteriorate and the intensity of the clashes is increasing every moment.