The attack comes after police imposed curfews following protests sparked by an online video of an attack on an Alawite shrine.
Members of the Syrian police have been killed in an “ambush” by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the government of Tartous in the latest security challenge for the new administration that came to power recently. a fortnight
Syria's new interior minister, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, said Thursday that the “remnants” of the Assad government are in Tartus has killed 14 members of the police and wounded 10 others, vowing to deal with “anyone who wants to undermine the security of Syria or endanger the lives of its citizens”.
The attack came as complaints several cities after a video showing damage to an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo was circulated online on Wednesday. Police had imposed curfews in Homs, Latakia, Jableh and Tartous until 8am (05:00 GMT). Al Jazeera could not confirm whether the curfew had been lifted.
The interior ministry said on its official Telegram account that the video, which showed armed men walking inside the shrine and standing near human bodies, dated back to an attack rebels on Aleppo at the end of November.
The ministry said that the violence was carried out by unknown groups, adding that it seemed that whoever was circulating the video was now trying to incite sectarian strife.
State media said Homs residents said demonstrations in the city were led by members of the Alawite and Shia Muslim minority religious communities.
Some residents said the demonstrations were linked to pressure and violence in recent days aimed at members of the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to al-Assad. which had been overthrown by opposition fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). group earlier this month.
Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Damascus, described the situation in Syria as extremely delicate now, with flashpoints over the past 48 hours particularly in the Alawite heartland. the Latakia and Tartous, as well as Homs and Aleppo.
Hashem said that the new administration has greatly strengthened the security forces to try to reduce tension in the areas.
“Yesterday, late at night, the new administration had high-level meetings about how to move forward, and one of the options affects what they say is what's left of the -former regime, members of the Fourth Division, (which) was an elite presidential guard loyal to Maher al-Assad, the former president's brother,” he said.
“But the new administration is less concerned about the possibility of a bloody conflict.”
Assad, who took over as president after his father's death in 2000, fled to Russia after rebel fighters captured Damascus on December 8, ending more than five decades of Baath Party rule.
The country's new leaders have repeatedly promised to protect religious minorities, who fear for their rights under the new administration.
According to the interior ministry, it is believed that several people were killed and wounded in a separate attack by the old regime forces in the coastal area.
