LATTAKIA, Syria — Intense clashes broke out on Saturday morning between Syrian government forces and remnants of the ousted Bashar Assad regime after their fighters launched attacks on hospitals in the northwestern city of Latakia.

Citing a security source in Latakia, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported that "the remnants of the fallen regime have launched an attack on the National Hospital in Latakia, and public security forces are countering it."

Syrian state television also confirmed violent clashes between the Syrian army and former regime fighters near Ibn Sina Hospital in the city.

The Syrian Health Ministry reported escalating attacks on hospitals across the Latakia and Tartus governorates in western Syria, resulting in casualties.

"Six hospitals in the rural areas of Latakia and Tartus were directly attacked by remnants of the fallen regime last night, leading to the martyrdom of several individuals, the injury of others, and significant damage to infrastructure," the ministry’s media office told SANA.

The ministry condemned the hospital bombings as a "crime against humanity."

In a related development, the Syrian Defense Ministry announced late Friday that it had foiled an attack by former regime fighters on the Syrian Navy command in Latakia.

For the past three days, the coastal region has been under heightened security following multiple attacks on security patrols by elements of the deposed regime, which have resulted in the deaths of 11 Syrian army personnel.

Bashar Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, marking the end of the Baath Party’s six-decade rule.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the anti-regime forces in ousting Assad, was declared president for a transitional period on Jan. 29. — Agencies