At least 14 law enforcement personnel were killed in western Syria overnight in an “ambush” by the former forces of deposed leader Bashar al-Assad, the interior ministry said on Thursday, in an indication of challenges for the country’s new government.

An overnight curfew was imposed by Syria’s ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group after 14 members of the Syria’s interior ministry were killed in what they described as an ambush by supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Interior Minister Mohammed Abdel Rahman called the attack a 'treacherous ambush by remnants of the criminal regime' in Tartus province 'while performing their tasks of maintaining security and safety.

Demonstrations and an overnight curfew elsewhere marked the most widespread unrest since Bashar al-Assad's removal more than two weeks ago.

Syria's new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an "ambush" in the west of the country. They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad's minority Alawite Muslim sect.

An ‘ambush’ by forces loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad has killed 14 members of the Syrian police in western Syria, the transitional administration said Thursday. Syria's new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 police members were also wounded by what he called ‘remnants’ of al-Assad’s government in Tartous.

A deadly ambush near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartous resulted in 14 interior ministry personnel killed and 10 injured. The attack was attributed to loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.