DAMASCUS — Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed Sharaa, pledged on Sunday (March 9) to track down those responsible for a wave of violent clashes between loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad and the country’s new Islamist rulers. He also vowed to hold accountable anyone who abuses their power. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has left over 1,000 people dead—mostly civilians—according to a war monitoring group. The violence is centered in Assad’s coastal strongholds.

In a televised speech and social media statement, Sharaa accused Assad’s loyalists and unnamed foreign forces of attempting to destabilize the country. "We are at a crucial moment where remnants of the old regime and their foreign supporters are trying to ignite fresh conflict and plunge Syria into civil war," he said.

The commander of a Kurdish armed group, engaged in a separate battle with Turkey, claimed that Turkish-backed Islamist factions were behind some of the worst atrocities, including executions of civilians from Assad’s Alawite sect. Turkey has not responded to these allegations. At the United Nations in New York, diplomats revealed that the US and Russia had requested a closed-door Security Council meeting on Monday to discuss the escalating crisis.

Sharaa’s office announced the formation of an independent committee to investigate the killings on both sides, as disturbing execution videos circulated among Syrians. Reuters was unable to verify their authenticity. "We will ensure that anyone responsible for civilian bloodshed, misuse of power, or lawlessness is brought to justice," Sharaa declared, urging for national unity.

Violence Rages in Assad’s Former Stronghold: A security source reported that clashes have slowed around the cities of Latakia, Jablah, and Baniyas, though security forces continue to comb the surrounding mountainous terrain, where about 5,000 pro-Assad insurgents are believed to be hiding. Assad fled to Russia last year after Sharaa’s Sunni Islamist movement, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, overthrew his regime, ending decades of autocratic rule and a brutal civil war. Many of Assad’s closest allies were left behind.

During the civil war, Western nations, Arab states, and Turkey backed the rebels, while Assad was supported by Russia, Iran, and Tehran-backed militias. The conflict claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Since Assad’s fall, tensions have continued, with Turkish-backed groups clashing with Kurdish forces in the northeast. Meanwhile, Israel has launched strikes on military sites in Syria, reportedly lobbying the US to keep the country weak.

Insurgency Escalates, Death Toll Rises: Though relative calm followed Assad’s departure, violence has surged as Syria’s new rulers crack down on an insurgency led by Assad loyalists from the Alawite sect. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Saturday that over 1,000 people had died in just two days—745 civilians, 125 security personnel, and 148 Assad loyalists.

Rami Abdulrahman, head of the observatory, described the death toll as one of the highest since the 2013 chemical attack by Assad’s forces, which killed around 1,400 people in a Damascus suburb. A Syrian security source said more than 300 security personnel had been killed in clashes with pro-Assad fighters since the fighting erupted on Thursday.

On Sunday, state-run SANA news agency reported that a mass grave had been discovered near Qardaha, Assad’s hometown, containing the bodies of recently slain security forces. The violence has led to revenge killings targeting Alawites, the Shi'ite offshoot sect that formed Assad’s power base and was linked to his regime’s wartime atrocities against Syria’s Sunni majority. Both the US and UN human rights chief Volker Turk have called on Syria’s interim leadership to bring those responsible to justice.

Residents Flee as Homes Burn: Mazloum Abdi, the Kurdish commander, told Reuters that Turkish-backed Islamist factions were primarily responsible for the violence and urged Sharaa to take action against them. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities have blamed rogue militias for summary executions and deadly raids in Alawite villages.

A resident of Qadmous, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, described how locals had fled to the fields to escape the violence. He reported seeing a convoy of armed fighters with tanks, heavy weapons, and drones burning homes and vehicles along the main road. "We don’t know how many people have been killed because no one has dared to return home yet," he said.

A security source added that pro-Assad insurgents had attacked public utilities in the past 24 hours, disrupting electricity and water supplies. To regain control, Damascus has deployed reinforcements to Latakia province, where dense forests and rugged terrain are providing cover for anti-government fighters, according to a police source.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters