Syria experienced a surge in security disturbances this week, ranging from sectarian unrest in Homs and coastal demonstrations to anti-terror operations in Aleppo, reflecting the country&rsquo;s continuing instability during its political transition.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday following the killing of a Sunni Bedouin couple in Homs last week, an incident authorities said was intended to provoke sectarian conflict. 
Retaliatory attacks in Alawite-majority neighbourhoods prompted a 12-hour nightly curfew and heightened security measures.
The unrest sparked widespread protests across coastal regions. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, tens of thousands of people gathered at more than 42 locations to denounce sectarian incitement. 
The group also reported isolated incidents, including an attempt to damage a statue in Tartous and a shooting in Latakia that left one man seriously wounded.
Interior authorities spokesperson Noureddin al-Baba, speaking to state-run al-Ikhbaria TV, said the right to protest is protected but cautioned against efforts to deepen sectarian divides. 
&ldquo;We advise our people not to be drawn into agendas promoted by groups outside the country,&rdquo; he said.
Separately, security forces dismantled an Islamic State (IS) cell in Aleppo&rsquo;s Afrin area, detaining several militants and confiscating weapons and bomb-making materials. 
Meanwhile, an armed attack on a security checkpoint west of Sweida killed one officer and injured two others, according to state media, with investigations ongoing.
The overlapping incidents underscore Syria&rsquo;s fragile security environment amid its ongoing political transition. 
The country has remained volatile since the civil war began in 2011. 
In December 2024, Syria&rsquo;s current interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, took control after the departure of former president Bashar al-Assad.
&mdash;IANS

Protesters gather amid heavy security in Syria

Sectarian clashes, protests and terror crackdowns expose Syria’s escalating security chall

Syria Sees Surge In Unrest Amid Sectarian Tensions

Sectarian clashes, protests and terror crackdowns expose Syria’s escalating security chall

November 26, 2025 | 17:10 IST