Loyalists kill 13 police officers in ambush attack

Gunmen ambushed a Syrian police patrol in Jableh on Thursday, killing at least 13 officers and wounding many others. This attack marks a significant escalation in tensions between Alawite loyalists and Islamic groups following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in December. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported conflicting casualty figures, with some sources stating up to 16 deaths among security forces. In response, authorities imposed a 12-hour curfew in nearby Tartus and sent reinforcements to the coastal region. The situation remains tense, with reports of increased violence against Alawites, despite official statements against sectarian conflict. Security forces have also arrested a former intelligence official linked to a historical assassination.