DAMASCUS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two members of the Syrian security forces were killed in an armed attack in the coastal city of Tartous, Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the morning as security personnel inspected a suspicious vehicle during a routine patrol, when one of the occupants opened fire, killing both officers, according to an unnamed security official.

The attackers fled the scene, and authorities have launched a manhunt to track down the vehicle and apprehend those responsible, according to SANA.

Meanwhile, the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Tartous saw a heightened security presence, including drone surveillance, following the attack.