Assad loyalists kill 14 Syrian security forces in ambush
Share:
Syrian officials say 14 of its forces, part of the group which toppled Bashar al Assad's regime, have died in clashes with supporters of the ousted dictator. Another 10 members of the security forces from Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) were also injured after being ambushed in northwest Syria, according to Syria's interior ministry.
They were trying to arrest a former Assad official, accused of issuing execution orders against prisoners. Since Assad's fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge - many from the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that Assad belongs to.
In the capital, Damascus, Alawite protesters clashed with Sunni counter-protesters on Wednesday, while similar demonstrations in the city of Homs have prompted a curfew, according to state media. Reports suggested the curfew was in place for one night, lasting from 6pm Wednesday night through to 8am Thursday morning local time (3pm-5am UK time).
The extent of the recent unrest that led to the imposition of the curfew is currently not clear. 'No respite even at Christmas': Starmer condemns Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes near Kazakhstan's Aktau airport. Deadly prison riots engulf Mozambique - as 33 killed and hundreds escape.
Syria's new de facto rulers, the HTS group did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The group's leader, Ahmed al Sharaa (previously known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al Jolani), has promised to unite Syria's many groups and to lead a government that promotes tolerance of all backgrounds and faiths.
