Baghdad: The Syrian Interior Ministry affirmed today, Sunday, that freedom of expression is a guaranteed right for all citizens within peaceful frameworks, noting that security forces have been instructed to secure protests and protect participants. In a statement, the Ministry said that “security personnel tasked with securing demonstrations were subjected to direct attacks in the city of Latakia, in addition to attacks in the Tartus countryside carried out by groups linked to remnants of the former regime, while they were performing their duty of maintaining public order.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry added that “some protests turned violent, leading to attacks on security personnel,” stressing that targeting security forces is a crime punishable by law, and that those involved will be pursued and legal action taken against them. The cities of Latakia and Tartus, along with Masyaf in the Hama countryside, witnessed demonstrations and protests condemning the bombing of the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, amid a security deployment to secure the demonstrations.

Later, local media reported that one person was killed and several others wounded among the Syrian Internal Security Forces as a result of direct gunfire in the city of Latakia.