Over 1,000 deaths reported in Syrian crackdown

More than 1,000 people have died in two days of violence in Syria's coastal Alawite region, according to a war monitor. The clashes involved gunmen and security forces linked to the new Islamist rulers and Assad's loyalists, with many civilian casualties reported. Syrian officials have acknowledged humanitarian law violations during the crackdown on what they described as a nascent insurgency. They have blocked roads to the coast and deployed security forces to restore order, while an emergency committee will monitor compliance with military orders. Thousands of Alawites and Christians have fled their homes amid ongoing violence, with many seeking refuge at a Russian military base. Reports of killings and looting continue, raising concerns about the new government's ability to govern inclusively.