Syria said 14 security personnel were killed in an “ambush” by forces loyal to Assad

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three militants were also killed in the clashes.

SOHR added that security forces later deployed additional forces.

The state media reports that the Syrian government imposed a curfew overnight in the central city of Homs.

Reports said it followed unrest following a video purported to show an attack on an Alawite temple.

Syria’s interior ministry said it was an old video, related to a rebel attack on Aleppo in late November, and that the violence was carried out by unknown groups.

SOHR said that one demonstrator was killed and five wounded in Homs.

Demonstrations were also held in regions including the cities of Tartus and Latakia and Assad’s hometown of Gardaha.

The Alawites are a minority sect to which the Assad family originates and to which many of the former regime’s political and military elites belong.

The lightning attack led by the HTS, which started from the north-east of Syria and spread to the whole country, ended the rule of the Assad family lasting more than 50 years.

Assad and his family were forced to flee to Russia.

After that, HTS promised to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

HTS has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, UK and others.

Protests started in the country on Tuesday On the burning of the Christmas treemade new calls to new authorities to protect minorities.