The situation in Syria remains extremely fluid after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad despite the efforts of the jihadists and their leader Mohammed al-Golani (Ahmed al-Sara) to cultivate a climate of normality.

According to the BBC, the new authorities, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are accusing supporters of the ousted president for an ambush which claimed the lives of 14 men of the interior ministry forces in western Syria.

The incident occurred near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite community. According to reports, security forces have attempted to arrest a former officer linked to atrocities at the notorious Saidanya prison, near Damascus. The ambush resulted in the death of 14 members of the security forces and the wounding of 10 others.

Security forces in Syria have launched an operation in the western province of Tartus to pursue “militia” supporters of the ousted president, Syria’s official Sana news agency reported, a day after deadly clashes with armed supporters of the former regime.

The operation allowed the “neutralization of a number” of members of these militias loyal to Bashar al-Assad, Sana said.

The SOHR (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights) reported that three gunmen were killed during the clashes, and spoke of arrests, while the new authorities brought reinforcements to the area.

Tension with the Alawites

Meanwhile, new Syrian authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the city of Homs, state media reported, after unrest sparked by a video purportedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine.

The interior ministry claimed the video was old, dating back to the rebel attack on Aleppo in late November, and the bloody attack was then carried out by unknown groups.

The Alawites, a minority closely linked to the Assad Alawite family, are deeply concerned about the possibility of retaliation. Many former officers and community members refuse to surrender their weapons, while there are reports that they intend to resist.

At the same time, religious leaders of the community are calling for a general amnesty, although this is considered unlikely given the allegations of war crimes against many of its members.

Tens of thousands of people have been tortured to death in prisons in Syria, and thousands of families are still waiting for answers and justice.

Syrians demand justice and trials for those responsible – and that’s exactly what they’re worried about members of the Alawites, who report bloody attacks against them.

The HTS-led blitzkrieg that began in northeastern Syria and spread across the country ended more than 50 years of Assad rule.

Assad and his family were forced to flee to Russia.

HTS has since pledged to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

The jihadist group has been designated a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, UK and others.

On Tuesday, protests broke out across the country over the burning of a Christmas tree, sparking fresh calls for the new authorities to protect minorities.