A Syrian official says gunmen have kidnapped 14 army officers in an ambush that killed six soldiers and a security agent.

The official says the incident occurred Sunday, September 25 outside the town of Qusair near the border with Lebanon. The official spoke Monday on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Qusair is in the central province of Homs, which has been witnessing intense violence since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in mid-March. Activists in Homs have said most clashes of the clashes pitted troops against army defectors, AP reported.