In a tense escalation of Syria’s ongoing unrest, loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have ambushed and killed 14 interior ministry troops of the new rebel-led government. The attack occurred near the Mediterranean port city of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite Muslim sect, leaving another 10 troops wounded.

The ambush reportedly targeted security forces attempting to arrest a former officer implicated in atrocities at the notorious Saydnaya prison near Damascus. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed the incident, reporting that three armed men were also killed during the clashes. Reinforcements were later deployed to the area as tensions surged.

This deadly ambush comes just weeks after Assad’s presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, marking the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule. Assad and his family have since fled to Russia, while HTS has taken control of the country, pledging to safeguard the rights of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities despite its controversial designation as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK.

The Alawite community, an offshoot of Shia Islam and the base of Assad’s political and military elite, now faces an uncertain future. Allegations of widespread torture and killings during Assad’s regime have fueled calls for justice and accountability. Many Alawites fear retaliation, as former officers refuse to surrender weapons and locals in some areas appear determined to fight back, as seen in Tartous.

Alawite religious leaders have called for a general amnesty, but such an initiative seems improbable given the numerous allegations of war crimes committed by members of the community. Tens of thousands of Syrians were reportedly tortured to death in the regime’s prisons, leaving families across the country demanding answers and accountability.

In a separate development, protests erupted in the central city of Homs following the circulation of a video purportedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine. Although the Syrian interior ministry stated that the footage was old, unrest quickly spread to cities like Tartous, Latakia, and Assad’s hometown of Qardaha. Demonstrators clashed with security forces, resulting in the death of one protester and injuries to five others, according to SOHR.

Adding to the unrest, the burning of a Christmas tree sparked fresh protests, prompting calls for the new HTS-led authorities to protect minority communities and religious sites.

HTS, while asserting its control over Syria, faces immense challenges in unifying a fractured country scarred by decades of conflict. Promises to protect minorities and uphold freedoms will be tested as tensions simmer among communities wary of retribution and struggling with the weight of justice yet to be served.