At least 14 members of the Syrian forces were killed in an “ambush” conducted by the loyalists of now-deposed President Bashar al-Assad in the Tartous countryside. The transitional administration confirmed the incident early Thursday. The ambush took place during demonstrations, which ultimately led to an overnight curfew in several parts of the country.
This marked the most widespread unrest since the ousting of Bashar’s regime more than two weeks ago. While sharing updates on the matter, Syria’s new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 police members were also wounded by what he called “remnants” of the Assad government in Tartous. He went on to vow to crack down on “anyone who dares to undermine Syria’s security or endanger the lives of its citizens,” Reuters reported.
The incident took place after the Syrian police imposed a curfew in the city of Homs. Restrictions were imposed following demonstrations, which many claimed were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shi’ite Muslim religious communities. Some residents told Reuters that the protests were linked to rising violence against the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to Assad, who was toppled by Sunni Islamist rebels on 8 December.
The religious rights of minorities remain a big question
Syrian state media reported that the curfew was imposed in Homs for one night, from 6 pm (local time) to 8 am on Thursday morning. Ever since the takeover, the country’s new leadership has pledged to protect the rights of the religious minority groups in Syria.
Spokespersons for Syria’s new ruling administration led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former al-Qaida affiliate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the curfew, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, small protests were held in other parts of the Syrian coast where Alawite minority live, including in Tartous.
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