Gunmen kill 13 police officers in Syrian ambush

Gunmen ambushed a Syrian police patrol in Jableh on Thursday, killing at least 13 officers. This attack highlights rising tensions between Assad's Alawite sect and Islamic groups following Assad's overthrow in December. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported conflicting casualty figures, with some sources stating 16 police officers died. Pro-Assad forces responded with helicopter gunships and reinforcements to regain control of the area. Authorities imposed a 12-hour curfew in nearby Tartus and arrested a former intelligence official linked to past violence. Local officials claim the situation is under control, despite ongoing sectarian tensions.