The death toll from two days of clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and revenge killings that followed has risen to more than 1,000, including 750 civilians,

The death toll from recent clashes in Syria has surpassed 1,000, with significant casualties among civilians, security forces, and militants. The violence marks a severe escalation in the ongoing conflict,

A war monitoring group said on Saturday that the violence was one of the deadliest incidents since Syria's conflict began 14 years ago.

The clashes began between government forces and supporters of former President Bashar Assad and later escalated into revenge killings

DAMASCUS — The death toll from continuing clashes in Syria's coastal region has surged to 1,018, including 745 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

A monitoring group says 973 civilians have been killed in revenge attacks against the Alawite sect since Thursday.

A Syrian security source said the pace of fighting had slowed around Latakia, Jabla and Baniyas, while forces searched surrounding mountainous areas where an estimated 5,000 pro-Assad insurgents were hiding.

Syria's new authorities announced on Monday the end of an operation against loyalists of deposed president Bashar al-Assad, after nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in the worst violence since his overthrow.

The UN is urging Syria's interim leaders to protect civilians amid fighting between security forces and those who remain loyal to ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Former army personnel allied to Assad have been carrying out co-ordinated attacks and ambushes since Thursday.