Syrian forces clash with Assad remnants over arrest of Saydnaya prison officer

NEWS WIRES

25 December 2024 at 6:18 pm·1-min read

People gather at the entrance of Aleppo city, on December 9, 2024, as they wait for the return, or to get news, of relatives after the release of detainees from Syrian government prisons.

At least 14 people were killed Wednesday in Syria's Tartus province when security forces under the country's new leadership clashed with remnants of Bashar al-Assad's regime during the attempted arrest of an officer linked to notorious Saydnaya prison.

A Syria war monitor said 17 people were killed Wednesday in clashes in Tartus province after security forces sought to arrest an officer under deposed leader Bashar al-Assad who was linked to a notorious prison.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "14 members of the General Security force" of Syria's new authorities were killed, along with "three armed men" in Khirbet al-Maaza, raising an earlier toll of nine dead.

Forces had sought to arrest an officer who was among "those responsible for the crimes of the Saydnaya prison", added the Observatory.

New Interior Minister Mohammed Abdel Rahman said in a statement that "14 interior ministry personnel were killed and 10 others wounded after... a treacherous ambush by remnants of the criminal regime" in Tartus province "while performing their tasks of maintaining security and safety".

It said he "issued death sentences and arbitrary judgements against thousands of prisoners".

It added that "dozens of people" were arrested in the village.

(AFP)

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