DAMASCUS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 147 people have been killed over the past two days as fierce battles erupted between Syria's government forces and remnants of the former regime in coastal regions, a war monitor reported Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that the clashes, which began Thursday, marked one of the deadliest escalations since the fall of the previous government in last December.

According to SOHR, of the 147 dead, 69 were Alawite minority members executed by security forces, while the rest included government security personnel, gunmen loyal to the former government, and civilians caught in the clashes. The Alawite minority is a sect associated with the former ruling elite.

The clashes erupted after ambushes and attacks on Syria's Military Operations Command, prompting heavy military reinforcements to be deployed across Latakia and Tartous for a sweeping security operation.

The government security forces launched a major offensive on Qardaha, the hometown of former President Bashar al-Assad, after fighters of the former regime reportedly seized several villages.

Tanks and armored vehicles have been deployed in an effort to regain control of the areas. Earlier, government forces recaptured the coastal city of Baniyas, a strategic coastal city. Meanwhile, Jableh remains under near-total government control, though armed resistance persists in the mountainous regions along the coastline.

Syria's Defense Ministry announced later Friday that government forces have restored security to the areas under "treacherous attacks." Enditem

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