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Al Jolani’s First Challenges as Syria’s New Leader

After the overthrow of Bashar al Assad, the new leader must face the former dictator’s Alawite loyalists

Twenty days or so after the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime, Syria’s new leader, Al Jolani, already faces a significant first challenge: resistance from Assad’s supporters, particularly the Alawite minority, who are organizing demonstrations and violent clashes

The new Syrian authorities have launched an operation against pro-Assad militias in the coastal province of Tartus, an Alawite stronghold. At least three loyalist fighters were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In the clashes, as security forces tried to arrest a former government official, there were 17 deaths, including 14 members of the security forces.

Goal: Restore Security

The new government said it aims to restore security in the coastal region. Several people were arrested, including a former military justice official known for issuing death sentences in Sednaya prison during the Assad regime. Thousands of people protested in various cities such as Tartus, Banias, Jableh, Latakia, and Homs after the release of a video showing an attack on a shrine in Aleppo.

Measures to Calm the Situation

To calm tensions, authorities said the video was old, dating back to the takeover of Aleppo by Hts rebels in early December. The Ministry of Information warned that it is forbidden to disseminate content aimed at sowing division. A night curfew has been imposed in Homs to restore order.

Developments in International Relations.

Meanwhile, the new Syrian leadership continues to receive international recognition. An Iraqi delegation met with the new rulers in Damascus, and Lebanon’s foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, expressed his intention to establish good neighborly relations with Syria.

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