DAMASCUS: Syria鈥檚 new authorities launched a sweeping security operation Friday after clashes with fighters loyal to former president Bashar Assad, the biggest challenge to their rule so far, left at least 71 people dead.

The violence saw the fiercest attacks on the country鈥檚 authorities since Assad was ousted in December in a lightning offensive by Islamist-led rebels.

Restoring security has been one of the most complex tasks for the new authorities since Assad鈥檚 fall, which ended over 13 years of civil war triggered by his crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

A curfew was imposed in the coastal province of Latakia, the Assad clan鈥檚 former stronghold and home to a sizeable Alawite community, the same religious minority as the former president.

Security forces began what official news agency SANA described as a 鈥渓arge-scale鈥� operation in cities, towns and the mountains of Latakia and neighboring Tartus, following the arrival of reinforcements.

The operation 鈥渢argeted remnants of Assad鈥檚 militias and those who supported them,鈥� a security official cited by SANA said, as he called on civilians to 鈥渟tay in their homes.鈥�

The defense ministry said it had sent reinforcements to the cities of Latakia and Tartus.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights鈥� latest toll, the clashes killed 71 people over the past day, among them 35 members of the security forces, 32 gunmen and four civilians.

The Observatory, a Britain-based monitor, also reported dozens of people wounded and others taken prisoner by both sides.

The authorities also imposed curfews in Homs and Tartus.

Mustafa Kneifati, a security official in Latakia, said that in 鈥渁 well-planned and premeditated attack, several groups of Assad militia remnants attacked our positions and checkpoints, targeting many of our patrols in the Jableh area.鈥�

Kneifati said security forces would 鈥渨ork to eliminate their presence.鈥�

鈥淲e will restore stability to the region and protect the property of our people,鈥� he said.

SANA said meanwhile that security forces had detained Ibrahim Huweija, a general who was 鈥渁ccused of hundreds of assassinations鈥� under the rule of Assad鈥檚 father and predecessor, Hafez Assad.

Ali, a farmer living in Jableh, said he saw 鈥渦rban battles and street fighting.鈥�

鈥淎ll night, we heard the sounds of gunfire and explosions,鈥� he added.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 afraid... we are trapped at home and we can鈥檛 go out.鈥�

Thursday鈥檚 clashes saw security forces conduct helicopter strikes after they clashed with gunmen loyal to Assad-era special forces commander Suhail Al-Hassan in the village of Beit Ana, also in Latakia.

Tensions had erupted after residents of Beit Ana, the birthplace of Suhail Al-Hassan, prevented security forces from arresting a person wanted for trading arms, the Observatory said.

Security forces subsequently launched a campaign in the area, resulting in clashes with gunmen, it added.

The killing of at least four civilians during a security operation in Latakia also sparked tensions, the monitor said on Wednesday.

Security forces launched the campaign in the Daatour neighborhood of the city on Tuesday after an ambush by 鈥渕embers of the remnants of Assad militias鈥� killed two security personnel, state media reported.

Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham launched an offensive that toppled Assad on December 8, when he fled the country to Russia with his family.

Multiple high-ranking Assad loyalists have also fled since the former president鈥檚 ouster, but many others remain in the country.

Syria鈥檚 new security forces have since carried out extensive campaigns seeking to root out Assad loyalists from his former bastions.

Residents and organizations have reported violations during those campaigns, including the seizing of homes, field executions and kidnappings.

Syria鈥檚 new authorities have described the violations as 鈥渋solated incidents鈥� and vowed to pursue those responsible.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa, whose Islamist rebel group led the offensive that ousted Assad, has since become interim president and engaged in high-level contacts with governments around the world.

萝莉视频, which Sharaa has visited in February, reaffirmed its support Friday for the new authorities, branding as 鈥渃rimes鈥� by 鈥渙utlaw groups鈥� the attacks on security forces.