The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of members of a Lebanese Hezbollah cell who were planning to carry out operations inside Syria, as security forces continue to intercept weapons shipments on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, Commander of Internal Security Forces in Rural Damascus, said on Thursday, September 11, that specialized units, in cooperation with the General Intelligence Directorate, arrested “a terrorist cell affiliated with Hezbollah, which was active in the towns of Sa’sa and Kanaker (western Rural Damascus),” following “close surveillance and extensive field operations.”
According to al-Dalati, preliminary investigations revealed that the cell members had received training in camps inside Lebanese territory and were “planning to carry out operations in Syria that would threaten the security and stability of citizens.”
He added that security forces seized rocket launchers, 19 Grad rockets, anti-armor missiles, in addition to light weapons and large quantities of assorted ammunition during the operation.
The case was referred to the competent authorities for legal proceedings, while investigations continue to uncover the cell’s full network and objectives, according to al-Dalati.
On September 9, the local page Khawatir al-Zabadani reported that Internal Security Forces had seized a weapons shipment between Zabadani and Madaya (on the Syrian-Lebanese border).
Al-Dalati had been appointed commander of Internal Security Forces in Rural Damascus on September 2, after serving in the same post in Suwayda (southern Syria).
Campaign against Hezbollah in Homs and Rural Damascus
Hezbollah has long operated in border areas adjacent to Lebanon, such as al-Qusayr (Rural Homs) and parts of Rural Damascus, with influence in some neighborhoods like Sayyida Zainab. The group also fought alongside the government during the years of the uprising, committing human rights violations and participating in the siege and bombardment of civilians in towns such as Zabadani and Madaya between 2015 and 2017.
In July, the General Intelligence Directorate under the Interior Ministry in Homs province arrested a man in possession of several ready-to-use explosive devices. According to the ministry, the detainee was linked to a Hezbollah cell and had received the devices through illegal smuggling routes.
In March, the Interior Ministry launched a security campaign in the Sayyida Zainab area (Rural Damascus) targeting Hezbollah-affiliated cells it said were planning to carry out criminal operations in the area.
The ministry reported that General Security in Rural Damascus managed to arrest a number of these cell members as part of efforts to strengthen security in the region.
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