2.4.4. Security incidents

Between 1 October 2025 and 31 May 2026, ACLED recorded 55 security incidents in Latakia governorate. Of these, 13 were coded as explosions/remote violence, 15 as battles, and 27 as incidents of violence against civilians. The highest number of the incidents occurred in October 2025 (11 incidents). An analysis of ACLED data for the period since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, from 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, indicates one peak in security incidents in the governorate in March 2025, with 128 incidents,679 coinciding with the wave of sectarian violence in that month.680 Between April and August 2025, the monthly number of incidents was below 30. In the period from September 2025 until May 2026, the number of monthly incidents further decreased and varied between 3 and 11.681

During the reference period, ACLED recorded security incidents in all four districts of Latakia governorate. The highest number was documented in Latakia (27 incidents), followed by Jablah (15 incidents). Al-Qardaha recorded 7 incidents and Al-Haffa 6 incidents. Latakia and Jablah were also the districts with the highest number of incidents recorded in the governorate since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.683

According to ACLED data, unidentified armed groups were the main actors involved in security incidents during the reference period, appearing in around 75 % of all recorded incidents, either coded as Actor 1 or Actor 2. Military and police forces were linked to approximately 38 % of the incidents (either coded as Actor 1 or Actor 2).684 A comparison between the current reference period and the overall security situation since 9 December 2024 suggests that actors such as military forces and military forces of Israel became less relevant or irrelevant in security incidents in the governorate. Unidentified armed groups became the predominant actor in the governorate.685

27 security incidents during the reporting period were coded as ‘violence against civilians’ including 17 lethal cases, most of them involving unidentified armed groups.686