Syria says 14 policemen killed in ambush by forces loyal to al-Assad
Al Jazeera
Attack comes after police impose curfews following protests prompted by online video of an attack on an Alawite shrine.
Members of the Syrian police have been killed in an “ambush” by forces loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad in Tartous governorate in the latest security challenge for the new administration that came to power a fortnight ago.
Syria’s new Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman said on Thursday that “remnants” of the Assad government in Tartous had killed 14 police members and wounded 10 others, vowing to crack down on “anyone who dares to undermine Syria’s security or endanger the lives of its citizens”.
The attack came as protests took place several cities after a video showing vandalising of an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo circulated online on Wednesday. Police had imposed curfews in Homs, Latakia, Jableh and Tartous until 8am (05:00 GMT). Al Jazeera could not confirm if the curfew has been lifted.
The interior ministry said on its official Telegram account that the video, which showed armed men walking inside the shrine and posing near human bodies, dated back to the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November.
The ministry said that the violence was carried out by unknown groups, adding whoever was circulating the video now appeared to be seeking to incite sectarian strife.
