DAMASCUS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Syrian security forces have taken full control of Baniyas, a strategic coastal city, as remnants of the former government's military retreated from the area, a war monitor reported Friday.
Forces from the defense and interior ministries combed Baniyas and its surroundings, employing heavy artillery and machine guns, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that reinforcements continue to pour into coastal regions, suggesting a prolonged military campaign.
It said intense clashes erupted in Latakia and Tartous over the past 24 hours, as government forces moved to crack down on armed resistance.
According to the observatory, since the onset of the clashes along the coastline, 35 members of government forces, 32 fighters affiliated with the former regime, and four civilians have been killed, with dozens wounded.
There are also unverified reports of additional casualties, missing personnel, and battlefield executions of captured fighters, it added.
Despite government forces' gains in Baniyas, armed elements remain entrenched in coastal mountain villages and the city's northern districts, maintaining positions along the Baniyas-Jableh highway.
Government forces have been repeatedly ambushed on key roads, including the Tartous-Homs highway and the Baniyas-Jableh route, where fighters reportedly used guerrilla tactics against advancing troops.
As tension escalates in Syria's coastal regions, uncertainty looms over whether government forces can fully stabilize the situation or if an extended insurgency will take root.
Amid the tension, authorities in Latakia and Tartous announced on Friday the extension of curfews and postponement of university exams.
According to a report by state news agency SANA, the curfew in Tartous was being extended to 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Saturday, whereas the curfew in Latakia was being extended to 9:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) Saturday.
Meanwhile, Latakia University and the University of Tartous have both postponed all scheduled exams, with new dates yet to be determined, SANA reported. ■
