Syrian authorities announced Thursday the arrest of what they described as a Hezbollah-affiliated cell operating in the western countryside of Damascus. Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati, commander of Internal Security in the governorate, said the arrests followed weeks of surveillance and field monitoring by specialized units working with the General Intelligence Service.
According to Dalati, the cell had been active in the towns of Saasaa and Kanaker. Initial investigations suggested the members received training in Lebanon and were planning attacks inside Syria that “threaten the security and stability of citizens.”
The Interior Ministry reported the confiscation of missile launchers, 19 Grad rockets, anti-tank missiles, rifles, and large quantities of ammunition. Images of the seized weapons were shared on the ministry’s Telegram channel. Dalati added that the case has been referred to judicial authorities while investigations continue into the group’s alleged affiliations and objectives.
Hezbollah Issues Firm Denial
The Lebanese group Hezbollah rejected the claims, issuing a statement through its media relations office denying any link to those arrested. “We deny the Syrian Interior Ministry’s claims that the arrested individuals belong to Hezbollah,” the statement said. “Hezbollah has no presence in Syria and remains committed to (Syria’s) stability.”
This is not the first time Hezbollah has faced accusations from Syrian authorities. The group has repeatedly denied involvement in security incidents across Syria since the collapse of the Assad government in December 2024. In March, it also rejected allegations of playing a role in clashes along the Syrian coast that left more than 1,400 people dead, many of them civilians—as well as a series of raids and attacks along the Syria-Lebanese border.
Campaign Targeting Alleged Hezbollah Cells
Syrian security agencies launched several operations this year targeting groups they describe as Hezbollah-linked cells. In March, the Interior Ministry reported arrests in Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus, as part of a broader campaign to counter what it called “criminal operations” in the area.
Hezbollah, long active in border regions such as Qusayr and Sayyida Zeinab, was a key ally of the Assad regime during the Syrian conflict and has been accused by rights groups of committing abuses during sieges in towns like Zabadani and Madaya between 2015 and 2017. The group is alleged to have previously sent similar cells into liberated areas during the Syrian revolution.
Border Tensions Complicate Ties
The Lebanese-Syrian border, stretching roughly 375 kilometers, has long been porous and difficult to control, with rugged mountains and valleys often lacking formal demarcation. Smuggling networks and armed groups have exploited the terrain for years.
The latest arrests add to ongoing tensions between Damascus and Hezbollah. While Syrian officials emphasize their determination to secure the countryside and stabilize border areas, Hezbollah maintains it is being wrongly implicated in Syria’s security crises.
