As part of its tireless efforts to combat terrorism, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced its success in a complex security operation, which led to the dismantling of an active terrorist network in a number of villages and towns, and the arrest of five of its members, after a long period of careful monitoring and follow-up.
SANA reported that units from the Ministry of Interior carried out the operation based on extensive investigations and careful monitoring of the movements of the network’s members. The relevant units began the raid as soon as sufficient information was available, and were able to besiege their whereabouts and arrest them.
The Ministry reported on its Telegram channel that preliminary information indicates that the cell members were involved in booby-trapping operations, manufacturing explosive devices, and preparing explosive mines, indicating that they had undergone specialized training outside the country at the hands of experts in the manufacture of explosives, with the aim of carrying out acts of sabotage targeting security and stability.
During the operation, security forces seized an arsenal of various weapons and ammunition, including military weapons, bombs, military equipment, protective vests and ammunition, in addition to quantities of explosive materials and detonators that were prepared for use in implementing terrorist plans.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that investigations are underway to uncover all links and identify supporting parties, in preparation for taking appropriate legal measures against those arrested.
In a related context, a security source revealed to SANA that the network that was dismantled was linked to another cell that attempted to carry out an act of sabotage by planting an explosive device in front of the house of a religious figure in the vicinity of the Marian Church in the Bab Touma area, on the 11th of this month.
In this context, the Syrian News Agency quoted a security source as saying that the terrorist cell whose members were arrested today is linked to the Hezbollah militia cell, whose members were arrested in the Damascus countryside on April 11, while planning to target Rabbi Michael Houri in Damascus.
The source added that one of the cell members, named Ali Muayyad Mahfouz, was in charge of coordinating between the two terrorist cells, pointing out that he had received training abroad in the field of booby-trapping.
The security source indicated that the reason behind repeatedly publishing a photo of a cell member is his pivotal role as a link between the two groups.
The Ministry of Interior had announced earlier today the dismantling of the cell and the arrest of five of its members as part of a security operation that targeted several areas.
