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| Syria says 14 security personnel killed in 'ambush' by Assad loyalists | Syria says 14 security personnel killed in 'ambush' by Assad loyalists |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Armed fighters of Syria's new rebel-led government. File photo | Armed fighters of Syria's new rebel-led government. File photo |
| Syria's new rebel-led authorities say 14 interior ministry personnel have been killed and 10 injured in an "ambush" by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country. | Syria's new rebel-led authorities say 14 interior ministry personnel have been killed and 10 injured in an "ambush" by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country. |
| They say the fighting took place near the Mediterranean port of Tartous on Tuesday. | They say the fighting took place near the Mediterranean port of Tartous on Tuesday. |
| Reports say the security forces were ambushed as they tried to arrest a former officer in connection to his role at the notorious Saydnaya prison, close to the capital Damascus. | Reports say the security forces were ambushed as they tried to arrest a former officer in connection to his role at the notorious Saydnaya prison, close to the capital Damascus. |
| Just over two weeks ago, Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction. | Just over two weeks ago, Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three militants were also killed in the clashes. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three militants were also killed in the clashes. |
| The SOHR added that the security forces later brought in reinforcements. | |
| In a separate development, the Syrian authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the central city of Homs, state media reported. | |
| Reports say this followed unrest after a video purportedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine. | |
| Syria's interior ministry said it was an old video, dating back to the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November, and the violence was carried out by unknown groups. | |
| The SOHR said one demonstrator was killed and five wounded in Homs. | |
| Demonstrations were also reported in areas including the cities of Tartous and Latakia, and Assad's hometown of Qardaha. | |
| Alawites are the minority sect from which the Assad family originates, and to which many of the former regime's political and military elite belonged. | |
| The HTS-led lightning offensive that started from Syria's north-east and spread all over the country ended the Assad family's more than 50-year-rule. | |
| Assad and his family were forced to flee to Russia. | Assad and his family were forced to flee to Russia. |
| HTS has since promised to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. | HTS has since promised to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. |
| HTS is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, the US, the EU, the UK and others. | HTS is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, the US, the EU, the UK and others. |
| On Tuesday, protests broke out in the country over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting fresh calls for the new authorities to protect minorities. | On Tuesday, protests broke out in the country over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting fresh calls for the new authorities to protect minorities. |