After days of intense escalation, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday the conclusion of the military operation in the western part of the country.

The clashes that began on March 6 between supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian forces resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 people, most of whom were civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Earlier, the transitional Syrian President, Ahmad al-Shara, announced the formation of an independent national committee to investigate the events in the Syrian coast, in addition to a special committee for maintaining civil peace aimed at communicating with the residents, hearing their grievances, and providing them with the necessary support during this sensitive phase.