TARTOUS, Syria, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A tense calm prevailed in Syria's coastal city of Tartous on Monday following a large-scale security operation targeting what the government refers to as remnants of the former regime.

The city and its outskirts have witnessed an increased presence of security forces after days of unrest, leaving residents anxious about the unfolding situation.

"The entire population is scared. Let's be honest -- the situation is frightening," said Hind Al-Youssef, a resident from the city of Homs who now resettles in Tartous. "The markets are frozen, and there's no movement. What is happening is beyond reason, beyond faith. Blood has been spilled, and that should never happen."

Khaled Beidou, another resident, echoed similar concerns. "What happened in Baniyas and those areas is terrifying. We feared for ourselves and our children. It's such a loss for this place and the rest of Syria."

Tartous, traditionally considered a stable area, has been deeply affected by recent developments. Residents said the rural areas were the driving force behind the recent unrest, while those in the city remain on edge.

"The people of Tartous are scared because, honestly, the rural areas were the main driver of the unrest, and now they are completely cut off -- no one can come here," said Hassan Ali Bardem, a local citizen.

Some residents attribute the situation to deteriorating security conditions.

"This all happened because of the security vacuum. If there were real security and stability, we wouldn't be here (witnessing violence)," said another citizen, Nabil Majzoub. "People have shut down their shops and are afraid to move around. In this neighborhood, we live together like one family, from different sects, but the lack of security affects everyone."

Syria's Defense Ministry announced Monday the conclusion of its military operation in the coastal region, stating that all strategic objectives had been achieved and that security was restored after clashes with remnants of the former regime.

Ministry spokesperson Hassan Abdel Ghani said government forces had neutralized hostile elements, pushed them away from vital areas, and safeguarded key infrastructure.

According to the ministry, the military operation was launched in response to coordinated attacks on security forces. The clashes began on Thursday and spilled over into several areas along the coastline.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that the death toll from the clashes had surpassed 1,000, including 830 civilians.

Following the violence, thousands of Syrians have fled to Lebanon's northern Akkar region, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.

Akkar Governor Imad Labaki said most of the displaced are Alawites, a religious minority that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belongs to. They entered through unofficial border crossings and sought refuge in Alawite villages, mosques, and homes.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday announced the formation of an independent national committee to investigate the recent deadly violence in the coastal region, according to a presidential decree.

In a televised address on Sunday, al-Sharaa also vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the violence, particularly "remnants of the former regime" whom he accused of orchestrating "attacks on security forces and civilians." Enditem

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