Ambush in Tartus: 14 officers killed amid Syrian unrest
In an ambush by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, 14 officers of the new Syrian authorities were killed, and another 10 were injured. The country's interim administration provided the information on Thursday early morning (GMT).
The clashes took place on Tuesday in the region of the port city of Tartus in western Syria. The officers encountered the ambush during an attempt to arrest a former officer of Assad's forces, who is accused of activities in Saydnaya prison.
According to Reuters, Assad's loyalists, mainly from the Alawite sect, instigated demonstrations and riots in several Syrian cities. In response, the new authorities imposed a curfew in cities, including Homs.
The new Syrian Minister of the Interior threatened on Telegram "to annihilate anyone who dares threaten the security of Syria or the lives of its citizens."
The rebels overthrew the Assad regime
During the ongoing Syrian rebellion, rebels and civilians ransacked Assad's palace in Damascus. They removed furniture and other items, celebrating the end of his long-standing authoritarian rule. Recordings from inside the residence and the Assad family's garage, where luxury vehicles were stored, surfaced on social media.
The Assad regime, after years of brutal rule, was brought down by the rebels, who captured the capital of Syria.
