Syria security forces, allies kill 973 civilians since March 6
A Syrian war monitor said Monday that security forces and allied groups had killed 973 civilians in a series of "massacres" in coastal areas and in the Latakia Mountains since March 6.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "the total number of civilian martyrs who were liquidated amounted to 973, including women and children", adding the "killings, field executions and ethnic cleansing operations" were ongoing in the wake of deadly clashes between security forces and Alawite gunmen loyal to toppled president Bashar al-Assad.
Syria's defense ministry on Sunday announced the end of its military operation on the country's coast.
"Our forces were able to neutralize the security cells and regime remnants" in a number of towns in Latakia and Tartus provinces, defense ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani said, adding that "having achieved this, we announce the end of the military operation".
Source: Agence France Presse
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