Clashes in Tartus (file image)
Officer killed in armed attack on Syrian patrol near Tartus, Syrian customs authority says
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- Several other members of the patrol were wounded.
- The attack took place on the road between Baniyas and Tartus.
One member of Syria’s customs police was killed and several others wounded after an armed ambush targeted a patrol travelling between the coastal cities of Baniyas and Tartus, the Syrian General Authority for Customs reported on Friday.
The authority said the attack was carried out by remnants of the former regime, who ambushed the patrol along the road connecting the two cities. One officer was killed, while several others sustained injuries.
No further details were immediately provided about the identities of the attackers, the number of people involved or the condition of those wounded.
The attack comes amid continuing security challenges in Syria’s coastal region, particularly in Tartus and neighbouring Latakia, where armed groups linked to the former Bashar al-Assad government have remained active since his ousting in December 2024.
In March 2025, coordinated attacks by pro-Assad fighters targeted security installations and patrols across several coastal areas, including Baniyas and Jableh, triggering widespread clashes with government forces.
The violence marked a major security challenge for Syria’s transitional authorities, with subsequent operations targeting suspected former-regime fighters and armed networks in the coastal provinces.
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