Syria's newly established rebel-led government claims that supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad killed 14 Interior Ministry troops in an "ambush" in the western part of the country. The attack, which took place on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port city of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite Muslim sect, also resulted in 10 other troops being injured. Reports suggest that the security forces were ambushed while attempting to arrest a former officer linked to the infamous Saydnaya prison near Damascus.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, reported that three unidentified "armed men" were killed during the clashes. Reinforcements were later brought in by the security forces.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Syrian authorities imposed an overnight curfew in Homs following unrest sparked by a video allegedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine. The Interior Ministry claimed the video was old, dating back to a rebel offensive in Aleppo in late November, and that the violence was carried out by unknown groups. The SOHR reported that one protester was killed and five others were injured in Homs, with demonstrations also spreading to cities like Tartous, Latakia, and Qardaha, Assad's hometown.
Alawites, an offshoot of Shia Islam, have long been associated with Assad's political and military elite. Fearing retribution for their involvement in the regime's brutal tactics, including torture and executions, many in the community are resistant to surrendering weapons, and some are reportedly preparing to fight back, as seen in Tartous. Alawite religious leaders have called for a general amnesty, though this seems unlikely given the scale of alleged war crimes. Tens of thousands of Syrians were tortured to death in regime prisons, and many families continue to seek justice.
The HTS-led offensive, which began in Syria's northeast, culminated in the collapse of Assad's regime after more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family. Assad and his family fled to Russia, and HTS has vowed to protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in the country. However, the group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK, faces ongoing scrutiny for its actions.
Protests also erupted across Syria on Tuesday in response to the burning of a Christmas tree, with renewed calls for the new authorities to ensure the protection of minority groups.
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