Syria’s Interior Ministry Arrests Individuals Linked to Assassination Plot
Syria’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that nearly a dozen individuals have been detained in relation to a suspected attempt to assassinate high-ranking officials connected to Iran’s Hezbollah.
The government, under President Ahmed al-Shalah—who has ties to al-Qaida—includes remnants of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has been engaged in a prolonged fight against the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad as well as its key allies, Iran and Hezbollah. Mr. Sharaa has been attempting to resolve diplomatic relations with President Vladimir Putin, a significant backer of the Assad government. However, his primary focus has been on strengthening ties with the U.S., European nations, and particularly the Arab states. Meanwhile, he has been accused of increasing his efforts to target alleged Hezbollah cells operating within Syria, which has led to persecution of members of minority groups associated with the former regime, such as Alawite Muslims and Christians.
This situation places Syria in a distinct position concerning Operation Epic Fury, a U.S. military initiative aimed at removing Iran’s leadership and dismantling its terrorist networks. Even though the Shara’a regime has roots in Sunni extremist organizations, Iran is considered the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, financing not just Shiite militant groups like Hezbollah but also Sunni factions like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The Syrian government has largely stayed out of the conflict, making it one of the few nations in the region not bombed by Iran since February. Still, reports indicate it is leveraging its influence to facilitate oil shipments amidst the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and a rising campaign against suspected Hezbollah members.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the latest arrests occurred on Tuesday, involving at least 11 individuals across five provinces: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Tartus, and Latakia, as part of an apparent plot to assassinate senior Syrian officials. The agency stated that the Interior Ministry traced the terrorist cell back to a training area in Lebanon, which is currently engaged in conflict with Israel. The Israeli army has invaded, and Hezbollah has occupied key regions in southern Lebanon since March, including extensive Christian areas, asserting that it derives benefits from the local terrorist infrastructure.
SANA noted, “Preliminary investigations suggest that the cell plans coordinated attacks, including assassinations, aimed at government officials.” However, the report did not clarify whether Sharaa himself was among the targeted individuals, nor did it specify which senior officials might be at risk.
The emirate newspaper The National reported that Hezbollah responded to these accusations, denying any intentions to attack the Syrian government and claiming it lacks any presence in the country. “Hezbollah has never been a political party working to destabilize the security of any nation or disrupt the stability of its people,” the statement claimed, which contrasts with Hezbollah’s historical involvement in global terrorist actions.
This alleged plot is just the latest in a series of assertions by the Shara’a administration claiming to thwart Hezbollah’s terrorist activities. Back on April 19, Syrian officials disclosed having seized a truck loaded with missile projectiles believed to belong to Hezbollah, accusing them of attempting to launch strikes against Israel from Syrian territory, a move that could provoke a dangerous Israeli response and threaten Syria’s tenuous peace surrounded by conflict. Syrian authorities stated that this attempted attack involved collaboration between Hezbollah and former officials of the Assad regime.
Shara’a administration representatives indicated that they had witnessed multiple efforts by “remnants of the previous regime and unscrupulous individuals associated with Hezbollah” aiming to destabilize Syria and compromise its security.
On Sunday, the outlet Asharq Al Awsat reported that Syria’s Interior Ministry is investigating possible connections between Hezbollah and Iran regarding the assassination of Shiite cleric Farhan al-Mansour, who reportedly met with Sharah shortly before his death and opposed Iranian involvement in Syria. Unnamed Syrian sources shared that the government suspects Iran and its proxies might be involved in the killing. Iran condemned the incident, attributing blame to the United States and Israel.
The Syrian government has, for the most part, refrained from taking an active part in the U.S.-Iranian conflict, while still seeking its domestic interests, especially in the oil sector. As noted by the Associated Press, Syria is facilitating Iraqi oil shipments through its territory towards Europe, allowing Iraq to bypass Iran’s commercial blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Obaidah Ghadban, a Foreign Ministry official within the Syrian government, informed the Associated Press that Syria views both sides in the conflict between Israel and Iran as “enemies.” His comments, while casting Israel in a negative light, indicate that Damascus perceives Israel similarly to Iran, a significant shift from attitudes during the Assad era.
“Whether it concerns Iran and its affiliates or Israel and its aggressive expansionist policies in Syria, all parties involved are strategic enemies of Syria,” he asserted. “Both sides are interested in undermining Syria.”
