Syria says 14 law enforcement officials killed in ambush by forces loyal to al-Assad | Information from the struggle in Syria

The assault comes after police imposed a curfew following protests sparked by an internet video displaying an assault on an Alawite shrine.

Members of the Syrian police had been killed in an “ambush” by forces loyal to deposed President Bashar al-Assad within the governorate of Tartous, the most recent safety problem for the brand new administration that got here to energy a fortnight in the past.

Syria’s new inside minister, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, stated Thursday that “remnants” of the Assad authorities in Syria Tartus had killed 14 law enforcement officials and injured 10 others, pledging to crack down on “anybody who dares to undermine the safety of Syria or endanger the lives of its residents.”

The assault occurred whereas demonstrations passed off in a number of cities after the published on-line on Wednesday of a video displaying the vandalism of an Alawite shrine within the metropolis of Aleppo. Police had imposed curfews in Homs, Latakia, Jableh and Tartus till 8 a.m. (0500 GMT). Al Jazeera couldn’t affirm whether or not the curfew had been lifted.

The Inside Ministry stated on its official Telegram account that the video, which confirmed armed males strolling contained in the shrine and posing close to human our bodies, dates again to the insurgent offensive on Aleppo in late November.

The ministry stated the violence was carried out by unknown teams, including that whoever was circulating the video now gave the impression to be looking for to incite sectarian battle.

State media reported that residents of Homs stated protests within the metropolis had been led by members of the minority Alawite and Shiite non secular communities.

Some residents stated the protests had been linked to stress and violence in latest days focusing on members of the Alawite minority, a sect lengthy thought of loyal to al-Assad, who was toppled by opposition fighters led by Hayat Tahrir al -Sham (HTS). group earlier this month.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Damascus, described the state of affairs in Syria as extraordinarily delicate in the mean time, with flashpoints over the previous 48 hours, notably within the Alawite heartland of Latakia and Tartous, in addition to in Homs and Aleppo.

Hachem stated the brand new administration had introduced in big reinforcements to safety forces to attempt to scale back tensions within the area.

“Late yesterday evening, high-level conferences of the brand new administration had been held on tips on how to transfer ahead, and one of many choices is to crack down on what they describe as remnants of the the outdated regime, members of the Fourth Division, [which] “It was the elite presidential guard loyal to Maher al-Assad, brother of the previous president,” he stated.

“However the brand new administration has little concern concerning the potential for a bloody confrontation.”

Assad, who took over the presidency after his father’s loss of life in 2000, fled to Russia after opposition fighters captured Damascus on Dec. 8, ending greater than 5 a long time of rule by the Baath Get together.

The nation’s new leaders have repeatedly promised to guard minority non secular teams, who concern for his or her rights beneath the brand new administration.

A lot of individuals had been reported killed and injured in one other assault by former regime forces within the coastal area, based on the Inside Ministry.