The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that a curfew has been imposed in the port cities of Latakia, Tartous and Homs, where the deadly clashes broke out on Thursday after Syrian government forces were ambushed during a security operation.

Syrian security forces clashed with Bashar Al Assad loyalists for a second day in the country's coastal region on Friday, as the Islamist-led government sought to quell the deadliest unrest since the fall of the last regime.

A Syria war monitor said Friday that security forces killed 136 members of the Alawite minority, to which toppled president Bashar al-Assad belongs, a day after deadly clashes with gunmen loyal to him triggered a major security operation.