Ahmed al-Sharaa's forces have allegedly executed 311 Alawite civilians in the coastal Latakia province up from the 162 executions confirmed a day ago, according to reports.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said at least 300 civilians have been killed in "field executions" since Thursday.
Latakia province is the stronghold of supporters of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted by the Syrian rebels late last year. He also belongs to the minority Alawites who are Shiites backed by Iran.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, who earlier went by his nom-de-guerre Mohammed al-Jolani, has ordered a crackdown on Qardaha, the hometown of Assad. Besides Latakia, executions were also reported at the Tartous governorate.
The observatory stated that "311 Alawite civilians were killed in the coastal region… by security forces and allied groups" since the clashes started two days ago. Besides the civilians, 93 security personnel and 120 Assad-backed rebels have also been killed. The total death toll touched 524, as of Saturday.
The war monitor alleged that the security forces and pro-government fighters were also involved in "looting of homes and properties." It said most of the executions were carried out by the forces of the defence and interior ministries.
SANA, the state-owned news agency, claimed that the remnants of the Assad regime attacked a national hospital in Latakia, prompting the military to intervene.
Al-Sharaa urged the rebels to put down their arms before it's too late. "You attacked all Syrians and made an unforgivable mistake. The riposte has come, and you have not been able to withstand it," he said a Telegram broadcast.
Videos showed security forces shooting down people at a close range. Footage also showed bodies of civilians piled outside a building as women scream.
Amid conflict in Syria, Israel said it will continue occupation of the buffer zone along the Golan Heights border to "defend against any threat."
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz slammed the Syrian regime, alleging that al-Sharaa who presented a moderate face after his takeover, has now revealed his true
intentions. He called al-Sharaa "a jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population."