The Syrian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday the deployment of military forces in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus in wake of an armed attack against security forces and civilians during recent protests.

 

Syrian television said the deployment was happening after "outlawed groups" carried out attacks against security forces and the people.

 

The military will work on preserving security and restoring calm in cooperation with the internal security forces, it added.

 

Earlier, local media reported that three people were killed and 48 wounded when gunmen affiliated with the ousted regime opened fire at civilians and security forces during protests in Latakia and Tartus.

 

State television said a member of the security forces was killed and others were injured while they were protecting protests in Latakia.

 

Head of the security forces in the Latakia province Abdulaziz al-Ahmed said the attack was carried out by terrorist members of the former regime.

 

The protests in Latakia were called for by Ghazal Ghazal.

 

Al-Ahmed added that masked gunmen were spotted at the protests and they were identified as members of Coastal Shield Brigade and Al-Jawad Brigade terrorist groups, reported the official SANA news agency.

 

The groups were responsible for bombings on the M1 highway and extrajudicial killings, it added.

 

A member of the groups was arrested in the Jableh countryside during a security operation, announced the Interior Ministry. Three other members were killed, while explosives and various weapons and ammunition were seized during the operation.

 

The Al-Jawad Brigade is affiliated with Suheil al-Hassan, a notorious former Syrian military officer.

 

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the group was involved in assassinations, bombings and attacks against the Interior Ministry forces and the army.

 

It was planning attacks on New Year celebrations, it revealed. The detainee also revealed the locations of weapons caches used by the group.