In Syria, the death toll in the clashes around Latakia has exceeded 1,000. An emergency committee has been established to identify possible human rights violations. Syrian President Ahmed Shara stated: “We are facing attempts to drag Syria into civil war” and made a call for unity. The United States and Russia have summoned the United Nations Security Council to a meeting today due to the escalation of violence in Syria. The number of deaths is on the rise in the events unfolding in Latakia and its surroundings in Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll has surpassed 1,000. It was reported that over 700 of the deceased were civilians killed at close range. The clashes resulted in the death of 148 pro-Assad elements and 125 individuals from Syrian government forces. Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, previously stated that the majority of the killed civilians were Alawites. How Did the Events Begin in Latakia? It is claimed that the spark for the events in Latakia and its surroundings was the attack by elements of the Assad regime on security forces. This attack, which occurred in the Jebel district of Latakia on March 6, resulted in the death of 11 security officers. Following the attack, the Syrian army dispatched reinforcement units consisting of hundreds of vehicles to Latakia and Tartus and initiated an operation to capture elements of the Assad regime. It is stated that as of Friday, areas with Alawite minorities have become targets of Sunni armed forces loyal to the Syrian government. The residents of Alawite villages reported that mostly men were targeted in the attacks, being killed on the street or in their houses. They described the incidents as “revenge attacks.” It was also noted that many homes belonging to Alawites were looted and set on fire. Reports indicate that thousands of people concerned for their lives have fled to the nearby mountains. President Shara: Attempts to Drag Syria into Civil War Syrian President Ahmed Shara said, “We are facing attempts to drag Syria into civil war.” He emphasized that the remnants of the previous regime had no choice but to surrender, stating, “We will not allow any external or local power to plunge Syria into chaos or civil war.” Ahmed Shara stated that anyone harming civilians would be held accountable. Emergency Committee Established The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced the establishment of an emergency committee to investigate possible violations that occurred during military and security operations on March 6-7 and to prosecute those responsible. The committee will meticulously examine whether command instructions were followed during the operations and will refer the responsible parties to military court in case of violations. USA and Russia Summon UN Security Council The United States and Russia have called for a meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday due to the escalation of violence in Syria.