Turkey Deploys Forces to Idlib as Assad Remnants Kill At Least 13 in Syria’s Coastal Clashes
The unrest, which intensified in these Alawite-stronghold areas, prompted Turkey—long a backer of opposition forces and a key player in Idlib since the 2017 Astana agreements—to reinforce its military
SYRIA - A large Turkish Armed Forces convoy entered Idlib, northwestern Syria, via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing on March 7, 2025. This deployment coincided with escalating clashes in Syria, primarily in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus, between remnants of the Assad government, including Nusayri (Alawite) groups, and the new Syrian government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) under Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Julani).
Featured image: U.S. and Turkish military forces conduct the third ground combined joint patrol inside the security mechanism area in northeast Syria, Oct. 4, 2019. The patrol allowed both militaries to observe first-hand progress on destroyed fortification that are a concern for Turkey. The security mechanism is intended to address Turkey's security concerns, maintain security in northeast Syria so Daesh cannot reemerge, and allow the Coalition to remain focused on achieving the enduring defeat of Daesh. The U.S. is currently executing concrete steps to ensure the border area in northeast Syria remains stable and secure.
The unrest, which intensified in these Alawite-stronghold areas, prompted Turkey—long a backer of opposition forces and a key player in Idlib since the 2017 Astana agreements—to reinforce its military presence to stabilize the region.
According to a Reuters report dated March 6, 2025, at least 13 members of Syrian security forces were killed in clashes with militants linked to the ousted Assad regime in the coastal region of Jableh on Thursday, March 6, as reported by government-aligned Syria TV.
The regional security chief, unnamed in the article, described the violence as a "well-planned attack" carried out by "remnants of the Assad militias," noting that many security force members were also wounded.
This marked a significant escalation in the Alawite heartland, posing a major challenge for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, three months after HTS toppled Assad in December 2024. While the Reuters report ties the casualties to Jableh, the broader unrest in Latakia and Tartus aligns with posts on social media, suggesting Turkey’s convoy may be a response to this widening instability