The new Syrian Interior Minister, Muhammad Abdel Rahman, announced tonight through the official news agency, SANA, that 14 security personnel under his office were killed by "remnants" of the regime of former President Bashar Assad in the rural areas of the coastal city of Tartus.
Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian security forces arrived in the village of Khirbet al-Mu'aza, in the southern rural area of Tartus, and attempted to arrest a former army officer in the Assad regime on suspicion of being involved in crimes against prisoners in Sidnaya prison.
According to the report, the wanted man's brother and local gunmen ambushed them - which led to the exchange of fire.
The organization reported that in addition to the 14 security personnel, "three gunmen" were killed in the exchange of fire. Internal Security Forces reinforcements that arrived in the area imposed a curfew on Khirbet al-Mu'za and arrested dozens of its members.