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| Assad loyalists kill 14 troops of Syria's new rulers | Assad loyalists kill 14 troops of Syria's new rulers |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rebels overthrew the old regime in a lightning offensive earlier this month | Rebels overthrew the old regime in a lightning offensive earlier this month |
| Syria's new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an "ambush" in the west of the country. | Syria's new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an "ambush" in the west of the country. |
| They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad's minority Alawite Muslim sect. | They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad's minority Alawite Muslim sect. |
| 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 monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three "armed men", which it did not identify, were also killed in the clashes. | The UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three "armed men", which it did not identify, were also killed in the clashes. |
| The SOHR added that the security forces later brought in reinforcements. | 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. | 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 over a video purportedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine. | Reports say this followed unrest over a video purportedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine. |
| The interior ministry said the footage was old, dating back to a rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November, and the violence was carried out by unknown groups. | The interior ministry said the footage was old, dating back to a 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. | 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. | Demonstrations were also reported in areas including the cities of Tartous and Latakia, and Assad's hometown of Qardaha. |
| Alawites are an offshoot of Shia Islam to which many of the former regime's political and military elite belonged, including Assad's family. | Alawites are an offshoot of Shia Islam to which many of the former regime's political and military elite belonged, including Assad's family. |
| The community is fearful of revenge, with members blamed for the torture and killing in Syria under Assad. | The community is fearful of revenge, with members blamed for the torture and killing in Syria under Assad. |
| Former officers are refusing to hand over weapons and locals in some towns suggest they want to fight back, which appears to have been the case in Tartous. | Former officers are refusing to hand over weapons and locals in some towns suggest they want to fight back, which appears to have been the case in Tartous. |
| There are calls by Alawite religious leaders for a general amnesty for Alawites - but this is unlikely because of the many alleged war crimes conducted by its members. | There are calls by Alawite religious leaders for a general amnesty for Alawites - but this is unlikely because of the many alleged war crimes conducted by its members. |
| Tens of thousands of people were tortured to death in prisons in Syria, thousands of families are still waiting for answers and for justice. | Tens of thousands of people were tortured to death in prisons in Syria, thousands of families are still waiting for answers and for justice. |
| Syrians are calling for justice and trials for those responsible - the very thing that members of the Alawite are worried about. | Syrians are calling for justice and trials for those responsible - the very thing that members of the Alawite are worried about. |
| The HTS-led lightning offensive that started from Syria's north-east and spread across the country ended more than 50 years of rule by the Assads. | The HTS-led lightning offensive that started from Syria's north-east and spread across the country ended more than 50 years of rule by the Assads. |
| 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. |
| The group is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, the US, the EU, the UK and others. | The group 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. |