LATAKIA, Syrian Arab Republic: Authorities in the Syrian Arab Republic reinforced security forces’ deployment in Latakia and imposed an overnight curfew on Tuesday after violence in the city the day before.

The Interior Ministry announced a “curfew in Latakia city, effective from 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, until 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025,” it said in a statement.
Ministry spokesman Nureddine Al-Baba said Syria rejected “any acts of sabotage or attacks that affect the dignity of citizens or their property ... and the necessary legal measures will be taken against their perpetrators.”
The ministry said that mistakes by certain individuals could not be generalized or used as a pretext to justify other violations or abuses, stressing that vandalism and mob-like actions targeting public or private property were categorically rejected.
Al-Baba said that imitating the destructive behavior of the former regime or engaging in acts that damaged property ran counter to the values of the Syrian state and the ethics of the Syrian revolution.
“Such conduct is alien to the authentic national identity of Syrians,” Al-Baba said in a statement to SANA.
He emphasized that the Interior Ministry would not allow reckless or unlawful actions, regardless of the justifications presented, and reaffirmed the ministry’s 
full commitment to protecting all Syrian citizens within the framework of the law and the authority of the state.
Al-Baba added Syria firmly rejected any acts of vandalism or assaults that infringed upon the dignity or property of citizens, noting that such acts constituted clear violations of the law and that legal measures would be taken against those responsible.
The spokesperson called on residents of Latakia governorate, in coastal Syria, to adhere to the law and refrain from actions that could undermine public security or national unity, including inciting rhetoric or irresponsible individual behavior, and from supporting those seeking to spread chaos and destabilize the country.
Earlier, Information Minister Hamza Al-Mustafa stressed that attempts by some groups to exploit events to advance sectarian agendas had failed. “These efforts had no connection to Syria’s national unity and resembled the methods of the former regime, which often betrayed Syrians and justified its crimes with false pretexts,” he said.
Al-Mustafa emphasized that the freedom of expression and protest guaranteed by the new state was a cornerstone for building modern institutions. “However, some have misunderstood it. The unity of Syria and its people remains a national principle beyond debate,” he added.
The minister highlighted that the new state had implemented political approaches aimed at uniting Syrians and overcoming divisions entrenched by the former regime. These efforts, he noted, “have helped resolve many issues while rising above the legacy of past conflicts and massacres.”
He underscored that every crisis provided an opportunity to distinguish between initiatives that benefited the people and those that were harmful, urging Syrians to reject divisive projects and work together to build a homeland inclusive of all.
Authorities have stressed repeatedly that Syria’s unity and sovereignty are non-negotiable and that foreign agendas seeking to exploit internal divisions will be opposed.