Ambush in Tartus: 14 officers dead amid new Syrian turmoil
In an ambush by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, 14 officers of the new Syrian authorities were killed, and another 10 were injured. The country's interim administration provided the information early Thursday morning (EDT).
The clashes occurred on Tuesday in the region of the port city of Tartus in western Syria. The officers were ambushed during an attempt to arrest a former officer from Assad's forces, accused of activities in Saydnaya prison.
According to Reuters, Assad's loyalists, mainly from the Alawite sect, sparked demonstrations and riots in several Syrian cities. In response, the new authorities imposed a curfew in cities including Homs.
The new Syrian Minister of the Interior threatened on Telegram "to annihilate anyone who dares to threaten the security of Syria or the lives of its citizens."
The rebels overthrew the Assad regime
Amid the ongoing Syrian rebellion, rebels and civilians looted Assad's palace in Damascus. They removed furniture and other items, celebrating the fall of the authoritarian rule. Recordings inside the residence and the Assad family's garage, where luxury vehicles were stored, surfaced on social media.
The Assad regime, after years of brutal rule, was brought down by the rebels, who captured the capital of Syria.
