The Syrian authorities on Friday announced the extension of a curfew in the cities of Latakia and Tartous and the start of large-scale combing operations in city centres, villages, towns and surrounding mountains to hunt down remnants of the ousted Assad regime.

This comes amid security tensions in the coastal region after remnants of the former regime targeted patrols and checkpoints, resulting in the death and injury of security personnel.

On Thursday evening, the Syrian Public Security Directorate announced a general curfew in Tartous, Homs and Latakia until Friday morning.

This morning, the Syrian News Agency quoted a senior source in the Public Security Ministry as saying that the curfew had been extended in the cities of Latakia and Tartus.