The clashes, which erupted on Thursday, marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took authority after removing Assad from power.

The revenge killings that started on Friday by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government against members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect are a major blow to HTS, the faction that led the overthrow of the former government. Alawites made up a large part of Assad’s support base for decades.

Civilians shot in the streets

Gunmen prevented residents for hours from removing the bodies of five of their neighbours killed on Friday at close range, one resident said.

‘Revenge killings’ of Alawites

Gunmen also burned homes, stole cars and robbed homes.

Syria’s state news agency quoted a Defence Ministry official as saying that government forces had regained control of much of the areas from Assad loyalists and authorities had closed all roads leading to the coastal region “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability”.

Syrians fleeing to Lebanon

Under Assad, Alawites held top posts in the army and security agencies. The new government has blamed his loyalists for attacks against the country’s new security forces over the past several weeks.