Yesterday, August 16, an explosive device detonated inside an old car in Damascus’ Mezzeh district, damaging a nearby vehicle but causing no injuries. Brig. Gen. Osama Atika, commander of Internal Security Forces in Damascus, confirmed the car had been parked for an extended period and said field teams were combing the area to ensure public safety. Security patrols deployed widely near the Golden Mezzeh Hotel, across from the Ministry of Information.
Deadly Blasts in Idlib and Daraa
In northwestern Syria, four people were killed and four others injured on August 14 in an explosion at a weapons depot outside Idlib city. The Idlib Health Directorate confirmed the toll noting that successive blasts were likely triggered by ammunition stored at the site. Syrian Civil Defense teams responded as activists circulated footage of smoke rising above the area. The incident followed a July 24 ammunition depot blast near Maarat Misrin that killed seven and injured more than 100, prompting the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to launch a formal investigation.
Meanwhile, in the southern province of Daraa, an August 15 explosion struck shops in the town of Muzayrib. Local reports said an explosive device damaged several stores, including a pharmacy and fertilizer outlet, but caused no casualties. Just days earlier, security forces clashed with an armed gang near Sahwa while responding to an ambush on commercial convoys. One officer was killed, five were wounded, and eight suspects were arrested, Daraa Governorate said.
Escalation on the Coast and Arrest Campaigns
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced August 14 that remnants of the ousted regime attacked a military vehicle in Latakia’s countryside, part of what officials described as a 72-hour escalation targeting army positions along the Syrian coast. While no casualties were reported, the ministry vowed not to tolerate assaults against civilians or soldiers.
Internal Security Forces in Latakia also reported progress in dismantling networks linked to Assad regime remnants. Brig. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Ahmad said operations led to the arrest of senior figures, including leaders of the so-called Coastal Operations Room–responsible for much of the violence of last March.
On August 14, authorities arrested Nasr Hani Raslan, accused crimes against civilians during Assad’s reign, including mutilation of bodies and assaulting and torturing a woman. Days earlier, two newly recruited security personnel were arrested for robbing a civilian’s home under the guise of an “official search.”
Reform and Accountability in Aleppo
In Aleppo, controversy erupted August 11 after the death of detainee Abdurahman Jajoul in police custody. Internal Security Commander Col. Muhammad Abdulghani acknowledged responsibility, announcing the arrest of officers linked to the case and the launch of a central investigation. Speaking at Jajoul’s funeral, Abdulghani pledged accountability, saying, “We stand by our responsibilities, and we abide by whatever the judiciary says.”
The Ministry of Interior has framed such actions as part of a wider reform process, including disciplinary measures against personnel accused of misconduct. Officials say these steps aim to reinforce discipline and build security institutions “on the foundations of justice and law.”
