Syria's President calls for unity after mass killings

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged for national unity and peace after over 1,000 people were killed in recent clashes in coastal Syria. The violence, which began on Thursday, involved new security forces and loyalists of the former Assad government. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 745 Alawite civilians were among the dead, with many killed in executions. The fighting also resulted in the deaths of 125 security personnel and 148 pro-Assad fighters, raising the total death toll to 1,018. In response to the unrest, security forces have been deployed to restore order in affected areas. Schools in Latakia and Tartus provinces will remain closed due to ongoing security concerns.