Overnight Curfew Imposed in Latakia After Attacks on Alawite Neighbourhoods; 21 Detained

Syrian authorities have imposed an overnight curfew in the coastal city of Latakia after a series of attacks on predominantly Alawite neighbourhoods, officials said, as tensions escalated along the country’s western coast.

The Ministry of Interior announced the curfew would run from 5pm local time (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday until 6am (03:00 GMT) on Wednesday. State media reported that security forces in Latakia detained 21 people accused of links to the former Bashar al-Assad administration.

Official Statements

Security services described the detainees as “former regime remnants who are involved in criminal acts, sectarian incitement and targeting internal security forces.” Authorities said the deployment of troops and tighter patrols aim to stabilise the situation and protect civilians and property.

Events Leading Up to the Curfew

According to local reports, unidentified assailants attacked Alawite-majority neighbourhoods on Monday, damaging cars and vandalising shops. The unrest followed protests by members of the Alawite community the previous day, which erupted after a bombing in the central city of Homs.

At least three people were killed during the demonstrations as security personnel attempted to disperse crowds; officials said one of the dead was a member of Syria’s security forces.

Broader Context

The violence presents an early test for President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration, which took office after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The new government faces the dual tasks of restoring security and rebuilding international ties after 14 years of conflict.

Defense ministry statements said government troops have been deployed to Latakia and neighbouring Tartous. Local officials added that security forces had "reinforced their deployment in a number of neighbourhoods" to monitor conditions and deter further attacks.

Latakia sits in Syria’s coastal heartland and includes a mix of Alawite and Sunni-majority districts. Alawite communities — which held influential positions in state and security institutions under the al-Assad government — have reportedly been targeted more frequently since the previous administration fell in December 2024. Humanitarian sources say hundreds of Alawites were killed in coastal areas in March, one of the deadliest episodes since the civil war officially ended.

Despite repeated pledges from Damascus and the new authorities that all communities will be protected, many minority groups remain fearful and uncertain about their future.

What to watch next: whether the curfew and troop deployments succeed in preventing further attacks, how authorities handle detentions, and how the unrest affects political efforts to stabilise Syria.