India, March 9 -- Massive clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad as well as revenge killings for two days left more than 1,000 people dead, media reports said on Sunday.

The clashes have been deemed one of the deadliest acts of violence since Syria's conflict began 14 years ago.

It added that electricity and drinking water were cut off in large areas around the city of Latakia.

This comes three months after insurgents took authority after removing Assad from power.

The government has said that they were responding to attacks from remnants of Assad's forces and blamed "individual actions" for the rampant violence.

Alawites made up a large part of Assad's support base for decades.

Residen...