The command unit of the Syrian army and the armed forces in a statement stressed the importance of the liberation of the Latakia Governorate’s predominantly Armenian-populated City of Kessab, in consideration of its unique geographical location.    

In the statement, which the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) had received, it is said that as a result of their operations, the Syrian army units were able to thwart the terrorists’ attempt to create an outlet to the sea on the border with Turkey.

The statement also notes that the engineering units have dismantled the mines and the explosive devices that were planted throughout Kessab. 

On March 21, armed militants from the Syrian opposition had infiltrated into northern Syria’s Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians and Alawites. Two large groups had launched the attack from Turkey. As a result, the great majority of the Kessab-Armenian families were sheltered in Latakia city. A group of Armenia parliament members had visited Syria to assess the situation in the region.