Clashes in Syria's Tartus Province Leave 14 Security Personnel Dead Amid Rising Tensions

Fourteen security personnel and three armed men were killed in violent clashes in Syria's Tartus province on Wednesday, following an attempted arrest of a former officer linked to the infamous Sednaya prison. The incident, which occurred in Tartus, a stronghold of the Alawite minority loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad, marked a significant escalation in the power struggle between the country's new authorities and the remnants of Assad's regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes were sparked by the attempted capture of the former prison official, who had been implicated in the brutal practices at Sednaya. The death toll was confirmed by Syria's new interior minister, who also reported that ten police officers had been wounded by what he described as “remnants” of Assad's government. The minister pledged to take action against anyone undermining the security of the state or endangering the lives of its citizens.

In response to the violence, Syria's new military leadership launched an operation to eliminate remaining pockets of support for Assad's regime in Tartus’ rural areas. State news agency Sana reported that the operation had already neutralized several armed men loyal to the toppled president. Several arrests were made following the clashes.

The deadly confrontation coincided with widespread unrest elsewhere in Syria, marking the most significant demonstrations since Assad fled the country over two weeks ago. Protests erupted in multiple cities, including Homs, where security forces imposed an overnight curfew following skirmishes tied to the violence around an Alawite shrine in Aleppo. The unrest, which has raised fears of sectarian violence, is being fueled by tensions between religious groups, particularly the Alawites, who fear potential persecution under the new Sunni Islamist leadership.

State media reported that security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd in Homs, resulting in one death and five injuries. Demonstrators claimed the protests were sparked by the circulation of a video showing a fire inside the Alawite shrine, which some say is being used to incite sectarian unrest.

In the cities of Tartus and Latakia, large protests were reported, with many participants hailing from the Alawite community, which had been a stronghold of Assad's regime. These protests, which marked the largest Alawite demonstration since Assad's departure on December 8, were also linked to recent tensions following the torching of a Christmas tree in Damascus.

The new Syrian leadership, under the control of the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has struggled to maintain order amidst growing sectarian fears. HTS has promised to protect minority religious groups, including the Alawites, but reports of religious violence continue to surface. In one incident, Alawites were reportedly beaten at a checkpoint, and another incident saw Alawites taken off a bus and attacked based on their religious identity.

In the midst of these developments, Iran, a key ally of Assad, has criticized the recent events in Syria, with the newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, urging Iran to respect Syria's sovereignty and the will of its people.

As the situation remains volatile, Syria's new leadership faces increasing pressure to manage the growing sectarian tensions and restore stability to the country.