RIYADH: șÚÁÏÉçÇű has condemned the targeting of security forces and crimes by âoutlaw groupsâ in Syria, a foreign ministry said early Friday.Â
âThe Kingdom affirms its support for the Syrian government in its efforts to maintain security and stability and preserve civil peace,â the statement concluded.
Syrian forces were clashing with gunmen loyal to an Assad-era special forces commander in Latakia on Thursday, the provinceâs security director said, after authorities reportedly launched helicopter strikes.
The fighting killed 48 people on Thursday, a war monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes in the coastal town of Jableh and adjacent villages were âthe most violent attacks against the new authorities since Assad was toppledâ in December.
Pro-Assad fighters killed 16 security personnel while 28 fighters âloyalâ to ousted President Bashar Assad and four civilians were also killed, it said.
The fighting struck in the Mediterranean coastal province of Latakia, the heartland of the ousted presidentâs Alawite minority who were considered bastions of support during his rule.