Syria’s new rebel-run authorities said 14 Interior Ministry employees were killed and 10 injured in an “ambush” by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country.
They say the fighting took place on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartus.
Security forces were reportedly ambushed while trying to arrest a former official in connection with his role in the notorious Saydnaya prison near the capital Damascus.
Just over two weeks ago, Assad’s presidency fell to rebels led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three militants were also killed in the clashes.
The security forces later brought in reinforcements, it is said.
The rebels’ lightning offensive, which began in northeastern Syria and spread across the country, ended more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family.
Assad and his family had to flee to Russia.
HTS has since promised to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.
HTS is designated a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, UK and others.
There were protests in the country on Tuesday about burning a Christmas treeleading to new demands on the new authorities to protect minorities.
