Syrian forces arrest Alawite cleric, curfew grips Tartous

Syrian General Security forces detained the head of the Alawite Islamic Council in Tartous Governorate, Sheikh Ali Halhal, following his public support for peaceful protests held earlier on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The arrest came amid heightened security measures, with local sources confirming that authorities imposed a curfew across Tartous until 7:00 am Monday.

The protests were launched at the call of the head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the diaspora, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, and were described by participants as peaceful. However, Sheikh Halhal’s endorsement of the demonstrations reportedly prompted his arrest, alongside other civilians accused of backing the protests.

Supreme Alawite Islamic Council calls for the immediate release of all detainees
In a strongly worded statement, the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council condemned the detention, calling it arbitrary and a clear violation of freedom of opinion and political expression. The Council urged international bodies and human rights organizations to intervene, stressing the need to safeguard civilian rights and prevent further abuses.

“The detention of Sheikh Ali Halhal and other civilians supporting peaceful demonstrations constitutes a blatant assault on human dignity and humanitarian principles,” the statement said, demanding the immediate release of all detainees. The Council also extended condolences to affected families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The developments highlight mounting tensions in Tartous, where authorities have intensified restrictions on public gatherings and political dissent in recent months.

Several killed, injured as Syrian security forces assault protesters
Earlier today, fatalities and injuries were reported among protesters in the vicinity of the al-Azhari roundabout in the city of Latakia, Syria, due to the public security forces’ gunfire.

Local sources reported that injuries were also reported among civilians in the Wadi al-Dhahab and al-Zahraa neighborhoods of Homs, as a result of attacks by public security forces on peaceful demonstrators, using gunfire and bladed weapons in some areas.

Protests erupted across Syria’s coastal region and interior cities on Sunday, marking a sharp escalation in public dissent over arbitrary detentions, political grievances, and ongoing security violations under the country’s transitional authorities.

Demonstrations were reported in Latakia, Tartus, Baniyas, Jableh, and Homs, where activists and residents staged sit-ins and marches demanding the release of detainees held without charge, an end to abuses, and guarantees for civil and political rights. Protesters raised banners calling for accountability and warning against the erosion of civil liberties amid the transitional period following the collapse of the former government.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), peaceful protesters came under attack by supporters of the transitional authority, General Security forces, and groups affiliated with the “Civil Peace” committees, in what the Observatory described as attempts to prevent gatherings and suppress protests.

SOHR reported attacks in the al-Qusour neighborhood in Baniyas, the Agriculture Roundabout in Latakia, as well as Jableh and several neighborhoods in Homs, as part of efforts to disperse demonstrators and block their ability to assemble and express their demands.

In Latakia, General Security forces intervened directly against peaceful protesters at the Agriculture Roundabout, where several demonstrators were beaten. Media activists and photojournalists were also prevented from filming and documenting the events, according to the Observatory.
Injuries, knife attacks, and arrests
In a particularly serious development, SOHR said that several protesters sustained injuries of varying severity, with one reported in critical condition and another killed, after supporters of the transitional authority attacked demonstrators with machetes and knives at the al-Emara Roundabout intersection in Jableh, in Latakia province.

Local sources also reported injuries among civilians following assaults by General Security forces on peaceful protesters in Wadi al-Dahab and al-Zahraa neighborhoods in Homs, noting the use of physical violence alongside arrests among participants.

In the al-Qusour neighborhood in Baniyas, auxiliary forces wearing security uniforms reportedly assaulted young men attempting to reach protest sites. Meanwhile, supporters of the transitional authority gathered under security protection at Latakia’s Agriculture Roundabout, in an apparent effort to prevent wider public participation in the protests.

As protests continued, the Commander of Internal Security in Latakia province accused what he described as “terrorist” elements of attacking Internal Security personnel in Latakia and Jableh, a claim repeated amid reports from local sources of dozens of protesters injured at al-Azhari Roundabout in Latakia due to gunfire and clashes.

Local Syrian sources also reported that protesters are facing tight restrictions in city centers, including checkpoints and intensified searches.

Call to protest, wider context
The demonstrations came in response to a call by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Islamic Council of the Alawite community, condemning the recent mosque bombing in Homs and urging peaceful mobilization. Despite heightened security measures and attempts to block access to protest sites, dozens responded to the call across coastal areas.

Observers say the protests reflect mounting public frustration as Syrians grapple with the challenges of transitional governance and economic hardship. Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over overcrowded detention facilities and allegations of abuse, complicating efforts toward national reconciliation.