News Center- Clashes broken out between Damascus-backed forces and armed groups in Latakia, Tartus, Idlib, Homs and Daraa on Thursday evening are going on. According to local sources, the armed groups have taken control of some areas controlled by the Damascus government.

According to the local sources, the armed groups took control of the Satamo Airport and a military area controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Then, HTS announced that it regained control of the military area.

At least 100 people have been killed and many others injured in the clashes that broke out in Latakia, Tartus and Homs since Thursday evening, local sources told NuJINHA.

A vehicle belonging to the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria was attacked by armed groups in Latakia. In a video shared on social media platforms, a person speaking Turkish said that they were attacked. Some videos show that the members of Damascus-backed forces were captured by armed groups.

Curfew declared in Latakia and Tartus

Following the intensified clashes, the Damascus government has deployed its military forces from Damascus, Hama, Idlib, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor to Latakia and Tartus, and declared a curfew in two cities.

Meanwhile, the Turkish state has deployed its troops to Syria from the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing.

71 people have been killed, including 35 members of government forces, 32 gunmen affiliated to the former regime's army, and four civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Friday.

Statement by AANES

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a statement on Friday, expressing deep concerns over escalating tensions in Syria’s coastal region.

“Tensions and clashes are escalating in Syria, particularly in the coastal region, between forces affiliated with Damascus authorities and military groups in the area,” said the statement.

“We, as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, emphasize that the root cause of this escalation is the Syrian authorities’ misreading of the reality on the ground and their failure to consider the sensitivity of the situation in Syria, especially its ethnic and religious diversity.  This escalation is dragging our country to the brink of disaster and may lead to massacres against our Syrian people. We call on all parties to act with wisdom, and halt this escalation, which will only deepen divisions among Syrian national forces.

 “We have repeatedly affirmed that Syria needs a national dialogue to discuss ways to ensure stability and resolve the ongoing conflicts and issues among Syrian forces. We have also stated that dialogue is the only path to building a Syria that fulfills the hopes and aspirations of its people, regardless of their backgrounds.”

 In the statement, the AANES urged the parties to end the escalation and start a dialogue.