Driving the news:
Videos circulating online showed members of Syria’s Public Security forces first shooting live rounds into the air before shifting to direct fire above and around protesters — triggering chaos, stampedes, and mass flight in Tartus and Latakia.
Why it matters:
The wave of unrest marks one of the most visible public challenges in years in Syria’s coastal regions, long considered strongholds of government support. The scale of the security response underscores growing anxiety within state institutions over expanding calls for reform.
State of play:
Protests erupted early Tuesday in Saadi Square in Tartus, al-Azahari Square in Damsarkho, northern Latakia, and Jableh Square, along with other locations witnessing growing civil mobilization.
Hundreds reportedly gathered at each site, despite the heavy deployment of Public Security units.
Zoom in:
In Homs, tensions spiked in al-Zahraa Square, where security forces detained several sit-in participants. Some were beaten during arrest in plain view of protesters and bystanders — scenes observers described as further proof of “systematic repression.”
Security vehicles also ran over several demonstrators, adding to fears of escalating violence.
Catch up quick:
Protesters carried signs demanding an end to “sectarianism, terrorism,” and “violation of dignity.”
Chants for a “decentralized Syria” and “justice for all” echoed across key squares.
The demonstrations followed weeks of rising frustration over political, economic, and security grievances.
Key points:
- Security tightened sharply around protest hubs.
- Major roads — including Jableh Bridge and al-Mutlaq — were blocked.
- Several predominantly Alawite neighborhoods in Latakia were sealed off to prevent the protests from spreading.
What he is saying:
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Public Security forces used “real bullets” in multiple locations to disperse demonstrators, confirming deployments in al-Azahari, al-Thawra, al-Agriculture, and al-Hammam squares in Latakia.
The other side:
Syrian state authorities have not issued a formal statement regarding Tuesday’s events. Government-aligned outlets largely avoided coverage of the protests, focusing instead on routine security reports.
Between the lines:
The intensity of the crackdown — including live fire, mass arrests, and neighborhood lockdowns — suggests authorities view the coastal demonstrations not merely as localized grievances but as a potential challenge to centralized power structures.
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Zohre Khazaee - Zohre Khazaee
