Syrian Army Takes Control of Latakia

The security forces of the Syrian transitional government have taken control of the city of Latakia, expelling armed supporters of the country's former President Bashar al-Assad. The Latakia police chief said this in a comment to the Qatari Al Jazeera television channel.

"The city has been taken under control, the blockade of military facilities has been lifted, and the remnants of the former regime have been driven out," he said.

Earlier, Syrian media reported that the Syrian armed forces had captured the central regions of Latakia and Tartus, in particular the city of Baniyas in Tartus province, and were continuing to clear the territories of these provinces of militants hiding there.

Recall that armed clashes took place yesterday between government forces and Alawite detachments supporting the former Syrian president.

According to the latest data, 48 people have died as a result of armed clashes in Syria.