Recent clashes in coastal Syria “not the fault” of government

According to Gamal Mansour of the University of Toronto, recent clashes in coastal Syria are "not the fault" of the Syrian government. Published on December 29, 2025, the report suggests the clashes exposed gaps in the government's control. Mansour states that Syrian authorities are still in a fragile state-building phase. The location of the clashes was specifically in coastal Syria. The reason for the assessment is to understand the ongoing security situation and the government's role in maintaining stability within the region.