Syrian officers say 14 of its forces, a part of the group which toppled Bashar al Assad’s regime, have died in clashes with supporters of the ousted dictator.
One other 10 members of the safety forces from Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) had been additionally injured after being ambushed in northwest Syria, in response to Syria’s inside ministry.
They had been attempting to arrest a former Assad official, accused of issuing execution orders towards prisoners.
Since Assad’s fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge – many from the minority Alawite group, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that Assad belongs to.
Within the capital, Damascus, Alawite protesters clashed with Sunni counter-protesters on Wednesday, whereas related demonstrations within the metropolis of Homs have prompted a curfew, in response to state media.
Stories instructed the curfew was in place for one night time, lasting from 6pm Wednesday night time by way of to 8am Thursday morning native time (3pm-5am UK time).
Syrian fighters stand on automobile parked on a avenue on the central sq. in Damascus. Pic: AP
The extent of the latest unrest that led to the imposition of the curfew is presently not clear.
Syria’s new de facto rulers, the HTS group didn’t reply to a Reuters request for remark.
The group’s chief, Ahmed al Sharaa (beforehand identified by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al Jolani), has promised to unite Syria’s many teams and to steer a authorities that promotes tolerance of all backgrounds and faiths.
Yesterday, he attended a gathering through which a number of insurgent leaders agreed to dissolve their teams and fall underneath the Syrian defence ministry.
However there was unrest throughout the nation, together with within the capital Damascus, the place there have been protests after a Christmas tree was set on hearth.
Syrian insurgent fighters shout slogans towards Assad in Damascus. File pic: AP
Kurdish-led fighters conflict with pro-Turkish rebels
In the meantime, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights additionally stated on Wednesday that 12 pro-Turkish fighters had been killed east of Aleppo throughout an operation by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that are backed by the US.
On Tuesday the SDF introduced it had launched a recent counter-offensive towards the Turkish-backed Syrian Nationwide Military (SNA) to take again areas it beforehand managed close to Syria’s northern border.
Clashes between the SDF and the SNA have intensified for the reason that fall of the Assad regime at first of the month, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says dozens from either side have been killed.
However Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened Kurdish-backed teams nonetheless working in Syria’s northern areas.
Turkish President Erdogan. Pic: AP
Erdogan threatens to ‘bury’ Kurdish teams
Ankara has insisted on the disbandment of the Kurdish YPG militia for the reason that fall of the Assad regime at first of the month.
“The separatist murderers will both bid farewell to their weapons, or they are going to be buried in Syrian lands together with their weapons,” President Erdogan stated in the present day in parliament.
“We are going to eradicate the terrorist organisation that’s attempting to weave a wall of blood between us and our Kurdish siblings,” he added.
Learn extra from Syria:
Syria’s rebel factions agree to dissolve
Protest after Syrian Christmas tree set on fire
Turkey views the Kurdish YPG militia – the primary element of the US-allied SDF – as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Staff Occasion (PKK) militia.
The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, and has waged an insurgency towards the Turkish state since 1984.
The SDF, which in 2021 was estimated to have some 100,000 members, just isn’t one of many teams which agreed to dissolve and fall underneath the Syrian defence ministry on Tuesday.
