Clashes between Islamists now in power in Syria and Assad's supporters kill 6 fighters

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Clashes between Islamists who took over Syria and supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad's government killed six Islamic fighters on Wednesday and wounded others, according to a British-based war monitor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighters were killed while trying to arrest a former official in Assad's government, accused of issuing execution orders and arbitrary rulings against thousands of prisoners. The fighters were from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the stunning offensive that toppled Assad earlier this month.

Syria’s transition has been surprisingly smooth but it’s only been a few weeks since Assad fled the country and his administration and forces melted away. The insurgents who ousted Assad are rooted in fundamentalist Islamist ideology, and though they have vowed to create a pluralist system, it isn’t clear how or whether they plan to share power.

Since Assad’s fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge, according to activists and monitors, the vast majority of them from the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that Assad belongs to.

In the capital, Damascus, Alawite protesters scuffled with Sunni counter-protesters and gunshots were heard. The Associated Press could not confirm details of the shooting.

Alawite protests also took place along the coast of Syria, in the city of Homs and the Hama countryside. Some called for the release of soldiers from the former Syrian army now imprisoned by the HTS. At least one protestor was killed and five were wounded in Homs by HTS forces suppressing the demonstration, said the Syrian Observatory. In response to the protests, HTS imposed a curfew from 6 pm until 8am.

The Alawite protests were apparently in part sparked by an online video showing the burning of an Alawite shrine. The interim authorities insisted the video was old and not a recent incident.

Sectarian violence has erupted in bursts since Assad's ouster but nothing close to the level feared after nearly 14 years of civil war that killed an estimated half-million people. The war fractured Syria, creating millions of refugees and displacing tens of thousands throughout the country.

This week, some Syrians who were forcibly displaced, started trickling home, trying to rebuild their lives. Shocked by the devastation, many found that little remains of their houses.

In the northwestern Idlib region, residents were repairing shops and sealing damaged windows on Tuesday, trying to bring back a sense of normalcy.

The city of Idlib and much of the surrounding province has for years been under control of the HTS, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, once aligned with al-Qaida, but has been the scene of relentless attacks by the government forces.

Hajjah Zakia Daemessaid, who was forcibly displaced during the war, said coming back to her house in the Idlib countryside was bitter-sweet.

“My husband and I spent 43 years of hard work saving money to build our home, only to find that all of it has gone to waste,” said the 62-year-old.

In the dusty neighborhoods, cars drove by with luggage strapped on top. People stood idly on the streets or sat in empty coffee shops.

In Damascus, Syria's new authorities raided warehouses on Wednesday, confiscating drugs such as the banned stimulant Captagon and cannabis, which were used by Assad's forces. A million Captagon pills and hundreds of kilograms (pounds) of cannabis were set ablaze, the interim authorities said.

Albam reported from Damascus, Syria, and Alsayed from Idlib, Syria.

Follow AP’s Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria

Security forces of the new Syrian government secure the area around group of Alawite protesters in the Mazzeh district in Damascus Wednesday Dec. 25, 2024. The minority Alawite community is an offshoot of Shiite Islam that form President Bashar Assad belongs to. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Hussein Arbeeni, 41, shows how he blocked a room door by tapes where 23 people locked themselves inside it to prevent leakage of the sarin struck during a 2013 chemical weapons attack that was blamed on then President Bashar Assad's forces, in Zamalka neighbourhood, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrian fighters gather during the night on a street in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Syrian rebel fighters shout slogans against the late Assad regime in the Mazzeh district in Damascus Wednesday Dec. 25, 2024 (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A banner with an image depicting the ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad is placed on the fire as a Syrian member of the rebel forces destroys drugs and alcoholic beverages, found at a complex building, in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. A portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs at right. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

FILE - Lebanese Druse leader Walid Jumblatt speaks to the media after a meeting with France's President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Women look at photos of people reported to be missing by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army, or a pro-government militia, in the Marjeh square in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Hanaa, center, and her mother Khawla, left, who are searching for any information about her brother Hussam al-Khodr, look at photos of people reported to be missing by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army, or a pro-government militia, in the Marjeh square in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. According to Hanaa, her brother was a soldier and went missing in 2014. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

People look at photos of people reported to be missing, by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army or a pro-government militia, as others sit to smoke and drink tea at the Marjeh square in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

DALLAS (AP) — While the Dallas Mavericks wait to see how long they'll be without Luka Doncic because of his latest left calf injury, they have another example of how to stay afloat until the superstar's return.

Doncic exited late in the second quarter of a 105-99 Christmas Day loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, and the deflated Mavs found themselves down 28 points late in the third.

Yet, Kyrie Irving had a 3-point attempt in the final minute that would have put Dallas in front. His shot was short, as was the rally.

“It’s kind of deflating,” said Klay Thompson, who passed Reggie Miller for fifth on the career 3-point list during the spirited Dallas rally. “We have such a deep roster, and that’s why we can withstand this time without him. We obviously are not the same without Luka in the lineup. We are going to do everything we can to go on a run here without him.”

Dallas coach Jason Kidd had no update on Doncic after the game.

The five-time All-Star was running a play on offense when he stopped, passed and reached toward his lower legs. Doncic stayed where he was until the Mavs could call timeout. He limped off with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

It was the second game back for Doncic after he missed two games with a left heel contusion. The 25-year-old has a history of issues with his left calf, missing all or most of the past two preseasons while previously sitting the first three games of the 2022 playoffs.

Doncic, who scored 14 points in 16 minutes against the Wolves and is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, missed five games this season with a right wrist sprain. He has missed eight overall, but Dallas is 6-2 without him.

Now the Mavs have managed a huge rally without him, even if it wasn't enough for the victory.

“I think this is a group that can win,” Kidd said. “They believe that. And they’ve shown that. The record speaks for itself. But we also need him. He’s just been hit with some injuries here of late. Hopefully this one isn’t that serious. But we do need him if we want to win a championship.”

Irving scored 39 points in the loss to the Timberwolves, while Thompson finished with 12 on 4-of-10 shooting from 3. Thompson now has 2,562 career 3-pointers to Miller's 2,560.

Irving is averaging 24 points without Doncic. Both missed a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last week.

Spencer Dinwiddie, who returned to the Mavs this offseason and has been an important option with Doncic sidelined, missed all seven of his shots against the Wolves and finished with two points.

It's likely time for Dallas to find a rhythm again among the supporting cast for at least a few games without the franchise player.

“Just playing selfless basketball,” said Thompson, who is in his first season with the Mavs after winning four championships with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State.

“Realize Kyrie’s going to take us home, he’s our closer. But for everybody else on the team, it’s just about getting in good rhythm and trusting one another and playing hard, especially defensively. He’s obviously our best player, but we’ve got to be tested, and this is a good test ahead.”

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)