The UN's special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, is "deeply concerned" over reports of fighting and killings. Pedersen emphasizes particularly reports of civilian casualties and calls for "restraint from all parties".
Syria's new government has deployed security forces in what the state news agency Sana describes as a "large-scale" operation in the mountains of Latakia province and adjacent Tartus. The operations are targeting "remnants of Assad's militia and those who supported them", according to a security source.
Total of 257 dead
According to the British-based SOHR, a total of 257 people have been killed since Thursday.
According to the organization, 162 of the fatalities belong to the Alawite minority. They were killed by Syrian forces in "five separate massacres in the Syrian coastal region on Friday, including women and children". The information is based on eyewitness accounts and verified video clips.
At least 95 people have also been killed and many injured in fighting and ambushes over the past two days in areas along the Syrian Mediterranean coast.
Called to lay down arms
The development is described as the most serious since al-Assad was ousted in December.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the country's interim government and the Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, calls on al-Assad supporters in a Friday evening speech to lay down their arms – "before it's too late".
The fighting in Latakia, where Assad had strong support during his rule, was a "well-planned and coordinated attack", according to security official Mustafa Kneifati.
We will restore stability in the region and protect our people's property, says Kneifati.
A curfew has been imposed in Latakia.
The Assad regime was overthrown in December. The interim government has said that elections may be held in about five years.
Since al-Assad's fall, 300,000 former refugees have returned to Syria, the UN refugee agency UNHCR announced on Friday. Additionally, 900,000 people who were internally displaced have returned to their homes since the end of November.
