Western Syria clashes (December 2024–present)

Following the fall of the Assad regime after several offensives launched by opposition groups between late November and early December 2024, clashes between Assad loyalists and incumbent Syrian caretaker government forces have occurred primarily in hold-outs in the Alawite-majority Tartus and Latakia Governorates, as well as in western Hama and Homs Governorates.

The government took action through pursuing Assadist officers and officials in villages within western Syria. The clashes were triggered by the proliferation of videos on social media showing footage of an attack on the Abu Abdullah al-Hussein al-Khusseibi shrine in Aleppo, which occurred in November. The incitement of violence and civil unrest among Alawite communities by Assadist elements has led to the formation of Alawite insurgent groups in Western Syria.

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, there were frequent demands of vengeance against individuals involved with the deposed Ba'athist regime across parts of Western Syria. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group also reported numerous attacks against mainly Alawite civilians and former security personnel in the region, carried out by unidentified gunmen and fighters aligned with the Syrian caretaker government and nominally a part of the new Syrian Army as well as by Assad loyalists, resulting in the deaths of more than 2005 civilians, 1897 of whom were confirmed to have been killed in sectarian violence.

On 29 December 2024, a pro-Assadist group named the Syrian Popular Resistance announced their opposition to the HTS-led government and threatened to attack HTS forces in response to the civil unrest since the toppling of the Assad regime.