The new rebel-led Syrian authorities said that 14 Interior Ministry employees were killed and 10 wounded in an “ambush” set up by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country.
They added that the fighting took place near the port of Tartous on the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday.
Reports say that security forces were ambushed while trying to arrest a former officer in connection with his role in the notorious Sednaya prison, near the capital, Damascus.
Just over two weeks ago, Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist faction Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three militants were also killed in the clashes.
She added that the security forces later brought in reinforcements.
The rebel blitz, which began in northeastern Syria and spread across the country, ended more than 50 years of Assad family rule.
Assad and his family were forced to flee to Russia.
Since then, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has promised to protect the rights and freedoms of many religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and others.
Protests broke out in the country on Tuesday On burning Christmas treeThis sparked new calls for new authorities to protect minorities.
