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Iraq's foreign ministry has voiced concern over escalating violence in Syria's coastal areas, warning of the potential for greater regional instability.

In a statement issued on Friday, the foreign ministry said it was monitoring the situation with "deep alarm". It reiterated Iraq's position that protecting civilians was paramount, adding that continued violence would only worsen the crisis.

"We are following with serious alarm the security situation in Syria and the dangerous implications it may have on the region's peace and stability," the statement read, calling for dialogue and an end to the violence.

In response to the escalating violence, Iraq's Border Guard Command increased troop numbers along the Iraqi-Syrian border to prevent any spillover.

A statement from the command confirmed that forces now conduct continuous patrols and have fortified positions from Rabi'a to al-Waleed, noting "no infiltration or threats" so far.

Meanwhile, influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr released a statement on Sunday via X, alleging that Syria's Alawite community was being targeted by what he had described as the country's "new government". He cautioned that the violence could amount to "sectarian cleansing".

"We urge our Alawite brothers to behave with wisdom and caution, safeguarding the unity of the Syrian ranks," he wrote, warning that continued bloodshed would give "extremists and those lying in wait - chief among them the Zionists and their supporters - the chance to advocate for foreign intervention."

Al-Sadr also called on Syrian authorities to "refrain from violence and sectarianism," warning that they risk being labelled as extremists akin to the so-called Islamic State group if the current trajectory continues. Additionally, he advised Syria's neighbours to avoid provocative statements, fearing a deepening regional crisis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that recent violence in the country's coastal regions has claimed at least 1,000 lives, including over 500 civilians. The Observatory described the situation as "systematic genocide against Alawites," blaming security forces and affiliated groups for much of the bloodshed.

Arabic media outlets similarly report that clashes involving Syrian security forces have escalated in recent days, with more than 1,000 fatalities and brutal attacks against civilians on the rise.

Dozens of videos posted online purportedly show massacres of Alawite civilians in Latakia and Tartus provinces by armed men in uniform.