Iraq warns of escalating violence in Syria, calls for protection of civilians

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced deep concern regarding the unfolding security developments in neighboring Syria, stressing that escalating violence in the Arab nation may severely impact regional security and stability.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry stressed the need “to protect civilians and spare them the scourge of the conflict.”

It also emphasized the importance of self-restraint from all parties, calling for adopting the language of dialogue and peaceful solutions instead of military escalation.

The Iraqi foreign ministry went on to categorically reject the targeting of innocent civilians in Syria.

It warned that the continuation of violence will exacerbate the crisis and deepen the state of instability in the West Asia region, which will subsequently hinder efforts to restore security and peace.

This comes as local sources have reported fierce clashes between militants aligned with the ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham administration and armed opposition groups loyal to the previous government in the vicinity of the al-Watani Hospital in Syria’s southwestern city of As-Suwayda.

The heavy fighting was followed by a massive explosion. There were no immediate reports about the cause of the blast, possible casualties or the extent of damage caused.

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Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, in the western city of Latakia, intense clashes broke out between HTS militants and gunmen loyal to Bashar al-Assad close to the Ibn Sina Hospital.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Friday that at least 237 people have been killed in Syria’s coastal region since the latest military escalation began on Thursday.

The Britain-based war monitor reported that militants, opposition fighters, and civilians were among those killed as HTS forces continued their crackdown on remnants of the former Syrian military in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Hama.

The Observatory underlined that the death toll included 142 non-combatants, noting that additional reinforcements and heavy weaponry have been deployed to key flashpoints as fighting remains ongoing in rural Latakia and Tartus.

The SOHR said the clashes marked the deadliest escalation since the fall of the previous government last December.

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