(CLO) Fourteen Syrian policemen were killed in an ambush carried out by forces loyal to the ousted government in the Tartous countryside, according to a statement from the transitional government on Thursday morning.
The incident comes amid protests and nighttime curfews across Syria, marking the biggest wave of unrest since Bashar al-Assad was ousted more than two weeks ago.
Photo of former President Assad on a ruined street.
Syria's new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 other policemen were wounded in the ambush, which was carried out by "remnants" of the Assad regime. He pledged to severely punish "anyone who dares to threaten the security of Syria or the lives of its people".
Earlier, police imposed a nighttime curfew in the city of Homs, according to state media, in response to protests that residents said involved the Alawite and Shi'ite religious minorities.
Some residents say the protests are linked to recent pressure and violence targeting the Alawite minority – a sect seen as loyal to Assad, who was ousted by Sunni Muslim rebels on December 8.
The new government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, has not commented on the curfew, which will take effect from 6 p.m. local time on December 25 until 8 a.m. the following morning.
Syria's new leadership has repeatedly pledged to protect religious minorities, amid concerns that the former rebel administration could impose a conservative form of Islamic rule.
Smaller protests also took place in several other areas near the Syrian coast, home to a large Alawite community, including in Tartous.
An undated video circulating on social media shows an Alawite shrine in Aleppo burning, with armed men walking inside and posing near bodies.
The Interior Ministry said the video was from a rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November. They said the video's current circulation was intended to incite ethnic conflicts.
The ministry also confirmed that some members of the former regime attacked security forces in the coastal area on Wednesday, causing significant casualties.
Hong Hanh (according to AJ, BBC, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/14-canh-sat-syria-thiet-mang-trong-boi-canh-bao-dong-lan-rong-post327541.html
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