Jableh: 16 members of the Syrian security forces were killed in attacks carried out by gunmen loyal to Bashar al-Assad in western Syria.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported this new toll amidst the ongoing tensions in the Alawite-majority region, which is closely associated with the ousted president.

The Observatory noted that the death toll from attacks and ambushes by pro-Assad gunmen in the town of Jableh and its surrounding countryside has risen to 16. These attacks are considered the most violent against the new authority since the overthrow of Assad in December.

Pro-government Syria TV had earlier reported that at least 13 members of the Syrian security forces were killed in ongoing clashes with militants linked to the Assad regime. The Syrian security forces announced engagements in the countryside of Latakia province, an Alawite stronghold, with armed groups affiliated with former officer Suheil al-Hassan, a prominent figure during Bashar al-Assad’s rule.