Over 1,000 killed in Syria clashes, including civilians

Over 1,000 people were killed in two days of clashes in Syria, including 745 civilians, according to a war monitor. The fighting occurred in Latakia province between security forces and fighters loyal to the former Assad regime, marking one of the highest death tolls since 2011. The violence began with an ambush on security forces in Jableh. The Syrian government has called for reinforcements to address the rebellion, leading to human rights violations amid the influx of fighters. President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that those harming civilians would face severe punishment. The recent killings have instilled fear in the Alawite community, with reports of execution-style murders. Residents described dire conditions, including power and water outages. The UN and France have condemned the violence and called for protection of civilians and independent investigations.