The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that some of its personnel were injured due to "an attack by elements affiliated with remnants of the former regime" during protests in Latakia province on the Syrian coast. The head of Internal Security for Latakia province, Colonel Abdulaziz Ahmad, said in a statement published by the Ministry of Interior on Sunday: "Armed individuals opened fire in the air during protests called for by Ghazal Ghazal at Al-Azhari roundabout in Latakia city, while Internal Security forces contained the situation." He added: "We monitored during the protests at Al-Azhari roundabout in Latakia city and at the National Hospital roundabout in Jableh, the presence of masked and armed elements linked to the so-called "Coast Shield Brigades" and "Al-Jawwad Brigades", responsible for field liquidations and explosive device bombings on the M1 highway." Ahmad stated: "There was an attack by some elements affiliated with remnants of the former regime within the protests called for by Ghazal Ghazal, on Internal Security personnel in Latakia province in the cities of Latakia and Jableh, resulting in injuries to some of our personnel and damage to vehicles belonging to special missions and police." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had previously reported that several protesters were injured with varying severity, with one described as "critical", following a machetes and knives attack on protesters at the Al-Bair ringroad intersection in Jableh city, Latakia province, on the Syrian coast. In a press release, the Observatory stated that the attack occurred during a gathering of protesters, causing panic and resulting in injuries at the scene before they were rushed to the hospital for necessary treatment.
