In an ambush between Syria’s new rebel-led authorities and the forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad, 14 interior ministry personnel were killed while 10 others were injured.
The ambush, which took place near the Mediterranean port of Tartous on Tuesday, also saw three militants from the Assad loyal forces getting killed, claimed the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The UK based group further added that the security forces later brought in reinforcements to counter the militants.
According to a BBC report, the interior ministry forces were ambushed as they tried to apprehend a former officer of the infamous Saydnaya prison, near the capital Damascus.
Two weeks ago, Syria saw the ouster of Bashar-al-Assad by the rebel forces being led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The lightning speed of rebel forces which started from Syria’s north-east, spread across the country and ended the over 50 year rule of Assad’s family.
Assad, along with his family, had to flee to Russia, reports had claimed. HTS took over the command of the country since then and promised to protect the religious and ethnic minorities of Syria.
However, the group is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK, US, European Union and United Nations among others.
Protests broke out in Syria on Tuesday over the burning of a Christmas tree, which prompted the new rebel led authorities to act and protect the minorities.
“If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore,” a demonstrator had said.
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