Qardaha: A mass grave containing the remains of security and police personnel was discovered near the city of Qardaha in northwestern Syria, the state news agency SANA reported on Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency, a horrific massacre was carried out by remnants of the fallen regime against the police and security forces in the city of Qardaha, as detailed by SANA. The news agency, citing a security source in Latakia province, mentioned that the mass grave was found in the vicinity of Qardaha, though details about the timing of the killings were not provided.

Earlier on Sunday, Syria's Defense Ministry announced the commencement of the second phase of a military operation. This operation aims to pursue remnants of the deposed Assad regime in rural and mountainous regions, following the restoration of security in coastal cities.

In recent days, the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus have experienced heightened security tensions due to coordinated attacks by supporters of the ousted regime. These attacks, described as the most severe since the regime's fall in December, targeted security patrols, checkpoints, and hospitals, resulting in deaths and injuries.

In response, security and military forces initiated sweeping operations to track down the attackers, leading to fierce clashes. Assad, who led Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on December 8, ending the Baath Party's regime, which had been in power since 1963. Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period on January 29.