Damascus, May 6 (SANA) Syrian authorities had been monitoring a Hezbollah militia-linked cell for three months before dismantling it in coordinated raids across several provinces, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said Tuesday.
Speaking to Syria’s al-Ikhbariya television, al-Baba said the investigation began after an attempt to target an internal security unit in Aleppo with an explosive device. He said subsequent investigations revealed that members of the group had entered Syria from Lebanon using forged documents after receiving military training.
According to al-Baba, the cell received training in the use of drones and explosive devices and was preparing attacks in multiple provinces. Security operations later expanded to Damascus countryside, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo, where simultaneous raids led to the arrest of the suspects.
He said the operation was carried out in coordination between the Interior Ministry and the General Intelligence Directorate, adding that the group possessed advanced equipment, including drones, explosives and surveillance tools.
Al-Baba said the cell members were planning attacks against a range of targets, including senior government officials. He added that the planned operations were disrupted shortly before execution.
The spokesperson identified the leader of the group as Mohammad Mahmoud Abdul Hamid, known as Abu Yaarub, saying he had previously worked with the deposed regime’s military intelligence branch in Aleppo and was later recruited by Hezbollah militia.
Part of the seized weapons cache dated back to the period following the fall of the deposed regime, while other equipment had been supplied by Hezbollah militia, al-Baba said.
He also said tightened border measures had contributed to reducing weapons and drug smuggling as well as the movement of armed groups, adding that Syrian authorities were continuing security coordination with Lebanon.
Earlier Tuesday, the Interior Ministry announced that Syrian authorities had foiled a major terrorist plot and dismantled a Hezbollah militia-linked cell that was planning attacks aimed at destabilizing the country.
N.J/ABD
