14 Syrian police killed amid widespread violence

(CLO) Fourteen Syrian policemen were killed in an ambush carried out by forces loyal to the ousted government in the Tartous countryside, according to a statement from the transitional government on Thursday morning.

The incident comes as protests and nighttime curfews have erupted across Syria, marking the biggest wave of unrest since Bashar al-Assad was ousted more than two weeks ago.

Picture of former President Assad on a ruined street.

Syria's new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 other police officers were wounded in the ambush, which was carried out by "remnants" of the Assad regime. He pledged to severely punish "anyone who dares to threaten the security of Syria or the lives of its people".

Police earlier imposed a night curfew in the city of Homs, according to state media, in response to protests that residents said involved the Alawite and Shiite religious minorities.

Some residents say the protests are linked to recent pressure and violence targeting the Alawite minority – a sect seen as loyal to Assad, who was ousted by Sunni Muslim rebels on December 8.

The new government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, has not commented on the curfew, which will take effect from 6 p.m. on December 25 (local time) until 8 a.m. the following morning.

Syria's new leadership has repeatedly pledged to protect religious minorities, amid concerns that the former rebel administration could impose a conservative form of Islamic rule.

Smaller protests also took place in several other areas near the Syrian coast, home to a large Alawite community, including in Tartous.

An undated video circulating on social media shows an Alawite shrine in Aleppo on fire, with armed men walking inside and posing near bodies.

The Interior Ministry said the video was from a rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November. It said the video's current circulation was aimed at inciting sectarian conflict.

The ministry also confirmed that some members of the former regime attacked security forces in the coastal area on Wednesday, causing significant casualties.

Hong Hanh (according to AJ, BBC, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/14-canh-sat-syria-thiet-mang-trong-boi-canh-bao-dong-lan-rong-post327541.html