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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Friday that at least 70 people were killed in Latakia, on Syria’s coast, during clashes between security forces and fighters "loyal" to ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

In a post on X, the observatory stated that "more than 70 people were killed, with dozens wounded and captured, in fierce clashes and ambushes on the Syrian coast between members of the defence and interior ministries and gunmen from the defunct regime’s army."

Syria’s state news agency SANA said a curfew had been declared in the cities of Latakia and Tartous, alongside large-scale security sweeps in urban centers, villages, and surrounding mountains.

The agency added that "the operations will target remnants of Assad’s militias and those who supported and aided them." It also reported the arrival of military reinforcements from the defence and interior ministries to the Latakia governorate to bolster security and stability.