In pictures: martyrs of Tartus in pro-Assad city

According to governor Nizar Mussa, “There isn’t a district, a village that doesn’t have its share of victims.” Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

Thousands have died in clashes throughout Syria. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

Some are marked only with numbers because the victims are unidentified. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

The Syrian flag flutters over the grave of a soldier, who died during the Syrian conflict, at the Martyrs’ cemetery in the coastal city of Tartus, northwest of Damascus. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

The director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that about half of the 60,000 regime fighters killed come from Tartus. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

Many shops in the city of 90,000 display large posters proclaiming the “Glory of the Unknown Soldier”. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

The governor says residents sign up to fight for economic and ideological reasons. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

In a Tartus cemetery, Syrian flags flutter above dozens of graves, many bearing photos of the deceased. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

More than 162,000 people have been killed since Syria’s conflict began in March 2011. Joseph Eid/AFP Photo

“Tartus has been called the capital of martyrs because it’s the province with the highest proportional number of casualties in the army and the NDF – 4,200 killed, 2,000 wounded and 2,000 missing,” according to the governor of Tartus, Nizar Mussa.