Damascus, March 8 (SANA) Syria marks the first anniversary of the armed rebellion that took place along the Syrian coast between March 6 and 10, 2025, one of the most dangerous attempts by remnants of the deposed regime to destabilize the country following its fall on January 8, 2024.
During those days, armed groups composed of officers and members linked to remnants of the defunct regime’s military and security apparatus launched coordinated attacks targeting the Syrian Arab Army, security forces and several civilian facilities. The attacks sought to create widespread security chaos that would pave the way for the establishment of separatist entities.
However, the swift and decisive response of the Syrian state, alongside the cohesion of the local community in the coastal region, helped thwart the plan and restore stability within days.
Background of the Rebellion and Incitement Attempts
Following Syria’s liberation, armed groups from the remnants of the deposed regime continued to operate secretly in certain areas, particularly along the Syrian coast, exploiting transitional circumstances and the complexity of the social environment.
In the months preceding March 2025, competent authorities detected suspicious movements by cells linked to remnants of the defunct regime in rural and mountainous areas, where they attempted to reorganize their ranks.
On March 5, 2025, clear signs of escalation emerged through incitement campaigns on social media platforms by accounts belonging to figures associated with the remnants of the deposed regime calling for rebellion.
These campaigns were accompanied by rumors about alleged kidnappings of girls along the coast, which later proved to be fabricated as part of a disinformation campaign aimed at spreading fear and confusing security institutions ahead of the attacks.
Start of Armed Attacks
On the evening of March 6, 2025, armed groups launched simultaneous attacks targeting army checkpoints, security patrols and security headquarters in several coastal areas, using surprise attacks and ambushes.
The first attack began with a deadly ambush east of Jableh following a false distress call, which was followed by further attacks within hours.
Within a short time, armed groups blocked the M1 international highway between Homs and Latakia and the M4 international highway between Aleppo and Latakia, setting up ambushes using heavy machine guns and rockets.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of dozens of army and security personnel, while explosive devices planted on roads also caused injuries among civilians and disrupted traffic.
Siege of Barracks
Later that evening, the attacks expanded to include military barracks and headquarters in the countryside of Latakia and Tartous.
Militants attempted to surround entire units inside their barracks and prevent supplies from reaching them. The besieged units engaged in fierce clashes to break the siege and regain control of the roads leading to them, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers.
Investigations later showed that the rebel groups used multiple tactics resembling guerrilla warfare and war crimes in order to inflict the highest possible number of casualties among security forces and civilians.
Among the most notable tactics documented were:
Luring security forces: Armed groups contacted security forces requesting assistance under the pretext of security incidents. When patrols arrived, they were ambushed, resulting in the martyrdom of dozens of personnel.
Planting explosive devices: Improvised explosive devices were planted on main and secondary roads targeting military, security and civilian vehicles.
Indiscriminate gunfire: Armed groups carried out heavy gunfire in residential neighborhoods in Latakia, Jableh, Baniyas and Tartous and on public roads to spread panic. They also carried out kidnappings of buses and vehicles carrying employees and journalists.
Military Response
Immediately after the attacks began, the Syrian leadership announced urgent measures to contain the rebellion. Units of the Syrian Arab Army and General Security forces moved rapidly toward the areas that had witnessed attacks.
On March 8 and 9, armed forces carried out targeted operations that dismantled a large number of armed cells and arrested dozens of individuals involved. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices prepared for additional attacks were also seized.
By March 10, the security situation began to improve gradually as main and secondary roads were reopened and security forces strengthened their deployment to protect civilians and prevent acts of retaliation.
Individual Violations and National Investigation Committee
As military reinforcements entered the coastal region, some individual violations against civilians occurred amid widespread public anger following the martyrdom of dozens of army and security personnel and the mutilation of some of their bodies by remnants of the defunct regime.
On March 8, 2025, a security source at the Ministry of Interior acknowledged the occurrence of such individual violations and confirmed that authorities were working to stop them and hold those responsible accountable.
On March 9, 2025, the Presidency issued a decree establishing an independent national committee to investigate and determine the facts surrounding the coastal events, reflecting the state’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law. The committee, headed by Judge Yasser al-Farhan, was tasked with investigating crimes and violations, collecting evidence and testimonies from all parties, and determining responsibilities.
Results of the National Investigation
On July 22, 2025, the national committee announced the completion of its work after four months of field investigations and evidence gathering.
The committee visited towns and villages where clashes took place, examined sites of incidents, heard testimony from hundreds of civilian and military witnesses, and reviewed forensic reports and digital evidence.
Its findings concluded that the coastal events constituted an organized and funded movement by parties linked to remnants of the deposed regime. Investigations identified hundreds of individuals involved in planning, execution and logistical support.
The report stated that some attacks carried retaliatory motives and involved direct targeting of civilians, reflecting an attempt to undermine stability and disrupt state institutions.
According to the report:
238 members of the army and security forces were martyred, some while wounded or after being captured. Some victims were buried in mass graves.
The committee documented 1,426 civilian deaths, including 90 women, noting that most victims died outside the framework of military clashes, whereas 20 persons remain missing.
563 suspects were referred to the judiciary, including 298 individuals identified by name for violations against civilians.
International Commission Findings
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, chaired by Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, reached conclusions similar to those of the Syrian national investigation committee.
The commission said it found no evidence of a government policy or directive ordering such crimes, and praised the cooperation of the Syrian government and its granting of full access to affected areas and relevant sites.
Syria welcomed the report, and Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani affirmed the government’s commitment to integrating the commission’s recommendations into the process of institution-building and strengthening the rule of law in the new Syria.
Public Trials
Parallel to the investigative reports, security forces and military police arrested several field commanders of armed gangs linked to remnants of the deposed regime who were involved in the crimes. The detainees were referred to the competent judiciary, and public trials began on November 18, 2025, at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo.
The first session included 14 defendants accused of violations during the coastal events, including seven detainees from remnants of the defunct regime and seven rogue elements.
The trials were attended by Arab and international media outlets. The step reflects the Syrian state’s commitment to justice, transparency and the rule of law.
Disinformation Campaign
The armed rebellion coincided with a wide media campaign on social media platforms that included misleading information, fabricated videos and accusations that the state committed mass violations.
The Syrian Ministry of Information rejected these claims in a statement issued on March 9, 2025, describing them as part of an organized disinformation campaign led by accounts linked to the deposed regime.
The ministry said some images and videos circulating online were taken from old events or from other countries and were republished to provoke unrest and destabilize the country.
International Reactions
Internationally, the European Union condemned the attacks carried out by armed groups loyal to the deposed regime against security forces on the Syrian coast and stressed the need to protect civilians and support independent investigations.
The United States also condemned the attacks and called for accountability for those responsible for violations.
Turkey condemned actions targeting Syria’s unity and stability, while Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan condemned the armed attacks on security forces and government institutions.
One Year After the Incidents
One year after the events, the picture appears clearer. Remnants of the deposed regime attempted to exploit the coastal region’s social composition and strategic location to launch an armed rebellion aimed at weakening the Syrian state and returning the country to instability.
However, the rapid response of the Syrian Arab Army and security agencies, alongside the cohesion of the local community, the establishment of an independent investigation committee and the holding of public trials proved decisive in foiling the plan.
Within days, the Syrian state succeeded in containing one of the most dangerous attempts to destabilize the country following the fall of the deposed regime, making the coastal events a pivotal moment that demonstrated the ability of state institutions and society to safeguard security and civil peace.
N.J
