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Syria’s Interim Leader Acknowledges Challenges as Death Toll Rises Amid Clashes
Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has downplayed the country’s latest surge in violence as “expected challenges,” even as the death toll from ongoing clashes between pro-government forces and supporters of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad has risen to 642, according to independent monitors.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), a UK-based watchdog, reported on Sunday that both pro-Assad groups and government forces were responsible for the escalating bloodshed. The organization attributed 315 deaths to “non-state armed groups” loyal to Assad, including 167 members of Syria’s security forces and 148 civilians. Meanwhile, it said at least 327 people—including civilians and disarmed militants—were killed by government forces and affiliated groups.
Footage of mass graves and alleged execution-style killings has emerged, fueling concerns of widespread atrocities. CNN has not independently verified these reports and has reached out to Syrian authorities for comment.
Growing International Alarm Over Sectarian Violence
The latest clashes mark the most intense fighting since Assad was deposed in December by Sunni Islamist militants, who have since sought to reshape Syria’s political and sectarian landscape. Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect, had long relied on support from Alawite strongholds along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in Latakia and Tartous.
While some Alawite groups surrendered their weapons after Assad’s fall, others remain heavily armed, contributing to the ongoing violence. The latest wave of conflict underscores the difficulty Syria’s new regime faces in stabilizing a deeply divided country.
Interim President Sharaa addressed the unrest during a visit to a Damascus mosque, where he urged national unity.
“What is happening in the country are expected challenges,” Sharaa said. “We must preserve national unity and civil peace… We are capable of living together in this country, as much as we can.”
U.S. Condemns Killings, Calls for Accountability
As the violence escalated, the United States issued a strong condemnation of the attacks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced what he described as “radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis,” who he said were responsible for killings in western Syria in recent days.
“The United States stands with religious and ethnic minorities in Syria,” Rubio said in a statement. “Interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres accountable.”
A Fragile New Order
Despite efforts by Syria’s interim government to assert control, the country remains deeply fractured, with remnants of pro-Assad forces continuing to resist the new regime.
The Syrian leadership faces the daunting task of disarming militant groups, rebuilding state institutions, and preventing further sectarian reprisals. Whether Sharaa’s calls for unity will ease tensions—or if the country will descend into further chaos—remains to be seen.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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