More than 600 people die after two-day clashes between Assad loyalists in Syria

That has increased to more than 600 since the two-day deaths in the clash between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and subsequent revenge-killing loyalists, a war watchdog said on Saturday.

The conflict that broke out on Thursday marked a major escalation three months after the rebels evacuated Assad from power in a challenge to the new government in Damascus.

The government said they are responding to the remnants of Assad forces and blaming the “personal action” of violence.

Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government's revenge killing of members of the Assad minority Alawi sect was a major blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a faction that led to the faction overthrown by the former government. For decades, Alave sent people to form a large part of Assad’s support base.

Residents of Alavepei villages and towns told the Associated Press about the murders, during which gunmen shot Alavepei on the streets or on the doors of houses, most of them. Two residents in the coastal Syrian region told the Associated Press from their hideout.

They asked them not to worry about being killed by gunmen, adding that thousands of people fled to nearby mountains to ensure their names are not public.

Urban residents talk about atrocities

Residents of Baniyas, one of the most violent towns, said bodies were scattered on the streets or were not buried on the roofs of houses and buildings, and no one was able to collect them. One resident said the gunman prevented residents from removing bodies that killed five of their neighbors in close proximity on Friday.

Ali Sheha, 57, a resident of Baniyas, fled his family and neighbors with his family and neighbors for hours on Friday.

Sheha said the attack on the Alavi minority “killed crimes committed by the Assad government.” Other residents said the gunmen included foreign fighters, as well as militants from nearby villages and towns.

“It's very, very bad. The body is on the street,” Shaha said. He said the gunmen were gathering people less than 100 meters from the apartment building and randomly firing at the houses and residents, and in at least one incident he knew, residents asked their ID to check their religion and denomination and then kill them. He said the gunman also burned some houses, stole cars and robbed them.

The death toll has tripled

The British Human Rights Observatory for the War Monitor said that in addition to 120 pro-Issad fighters, 428 Alawites were killed in revenge attacks and 89 security forces were present. Rami Abdurrahman, head of the observatory, said the revenge killings stopped in the early hours of Saturday.

“This is one of the biggest massacres in the Syrian conflict,” Abdullaman said of the killing of Alvet civilians.

The previous number given by the group has more than 200 deaths. Official figures have not been released yet.

Roads to coastal areas closed

Syrian State News Agency quoted an unnamed defense ministry official who said government forces have regained control of many areas of Assad loyalists. It added that authorities have closed all roads to the coastal areas “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability.”

Residents said the bodies of 31 people who died in a revenge attack in the central village of Tuwaym the day before were placed in a large-scale grave on Saturday morning.

Residents said the murdered person included nine children and four women and AP photos of the body covering white cloth while lining the mass grave.

Lebanese lawmaker Haidar Nasser, who owns one of two seats allocated to the Alawite denomination of the parliament, said people are fleeing Syria to escape from Syria in the security of Lebanon. He said he didn't have exact numbers.

Nasser said many people live in Russian air bases in Hmeimim, Syria, adding that the international community should protect the Alaveites who are loyal to the country. He said many Arawites have been fired for their jobs since Assad fell, and some former soldiers who have reconciled with the new authorities have been killed.

Under Assad, the Arawites held the highest position in the Army and Security Agency. The new government has blamed his loyalists for his attacks on the country's new security forces in the past few weeks.

According to the Observatory, the recent clash began with government forces trying to detain a wanted criminal near the coastal city of Japur and ambushed by Assad loyalists.