SYRIA'S NEW RULING FORCES LOSE 14 SOLDIERS IN AN AMBUSH BY ASSAD LOYALISTS

 Assad loyalists kill 14 in clash with Syria's new ruling forces

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Opponents of Bashar al-Assad overthrew the regime in a lightning offensive

Syria's new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an "ambush" in the west of the country.

They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad's minority Alawite Muslim sect.

Reports say the security forces were ambushed as they tried to arrest a former officer in connection to his role at the notorious Saydnaya prison, close to the capital, Damascus.

Just over two weeks ago, Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction.

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