Syrian security forces raid alleged Hezbollah cell in Damascus countryside

Syrian security forces arrested an alleged Hezbollah cell and confiscated weapons in a raid on the Damascus countryside, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry.

According to Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, the commander of Internal Security in the Damascus countryside, the men had received training in camps in Lebanon and then came back to Syria and "were planning to carry out operations inside Syrian territory that would threaten the security and stability of citizens."

Syrian security forces did not release any information on the identities of the men arrested – the Interior Ministry released pictures of the men detained later in the day but did not include names or any other details about them – nor evidence to support the claim that they were members of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah categorically denied the Syrian claims.

Hezbollah has no presence and does not practice any activity on Syrian territory and is keen on the stability of Syria and the security of its people

Syrian security forces were also able to secure a cache of rockets, launchers and ammunition during the raids on Saasaa and Kanaker.

“During the operation, rocket launchers, 19 grad rockets, anti-tank missiles, individual weapons and large quantities of various ammunition were confiscated,” Dalati stated.

Hezbollah was a close ally of the Assad regime which allowed the party to smuggle weapons, money and other supplies into Lebanon as well as to establish training camps on Syria soil.

During the Syrian Civil War, Hezbollah came to the aid of Assad and sent its own fighters to slow the advance of the rebels and eventually push them back to an enclave in Idlib. Coupled with Russian support, Hezbollah helped turn the tide of the war in the regimes favor.

However, during the lightning rebel offensive at the end of 2024, as Syrian forces surrendered at the advancing rebel forces, both Hezbollah and Russia refused to come to the aid of the regime which ultimately fell on December 8.

Despite being an opponent of Hezbollah during the war, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has spoken about turning a new page in their relationship as has Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem.

Sharaa, though, has continued to accuse the party of continuing to try to smuggle weapons and drugs through Syria. The Syrian president is also struggling to establish control across the entirety of the country following 14 years of war and after several recent clashes in the country’s coastal region and south that resulted in government forces massacring religious minorities.