Syria’s new government reports that forces loyal to former President Assad killed 14 interior ministry troops and wounded 10 others in an ambush near Tartous. The incident occurred as security forces attempted to arrest a former officer connected to the Saydnaya prison, marking the first major challenge to new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa’s authority.
The state news agency Sana reports that security forces have launched operations to “restore security” in Tartous province, claiming to have “neutralized” some pro-Assad militants while pursuing others. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed three additional casualties among unidentified armed men during the clash.
Tensions are particularly high in Alawite-majority regions, including Tartous, Latakia, and Assad’s hometown Qardaha. The Alawite community, an offshoot of Shia Islam to which many former regime officials belonged, fears retribution for alleged war crimes committed under Assad’s rule. Some former officers are refusing to disarm, with local reports suggesting resistance movements are forming.
Separately, authorities imposed a curfew in Homs following unrest over an alleged attack on an Alawite shrine, though officials claim the footage is from earlier conflicts. One demonstrator was killed and five wounded in related protests.
The new government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), faces the complex challenge of maintaining stability while addressing demands for justice from families of torture victims. While HTS has promised to protect minority rights, recent protests over a Christmas tree burning have intensified calls for minority protection. The group, which ended the Assad family’s 50-year rule through a rapid offensive forcing them to flee to Russia, remains designated as a terrorist organization by major international bodies.
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