Over 1,000 killed in Syria's escalating violence

Violence has surged in coastal Syria, resulting in over 1,000 deaths since Thursday. This unrest marks the worst outbreak since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence began in al-Haffa, where armed men loyal to Assad ambushed government forces. This triggered intense clashes, with residents reporting shootings and bodies in the streets. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with people fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted. The situation has left many residents terrified and desperate to escape the violence.