The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced a series of high-profile arrests in Latakia governorate in late August. On Aug. 21, security forces detained Ahmad Tahimoush, accused of leading armed cells tied to remnants of the Assad regime. The ministry said Tahimoush had worked for Ghiath Dalla, who led a failed coup attempt on March 6, and received funding from businessman Rami Makhlouf.
Two days later, on Aug. 23, officials reported the arrest of Muhammad Shafiq Shamals, described as a member of “outlaw groups” involved in assassinations of security personnel and attacks on Defense Ministry sites. Both arrests were carried out by the Internal Security Command with support from the Counter-Terrorism Branch.
Latakia also witnessed direct attacks. A missile landed near an Internal Security checkpoint in the Jableh countryside on Aug. 23, though it failed to detonate. Days earlier, gunmen killed two security personnel in Tartous. Authorities later conducted a targeted raid against the cell believed responsible.
Homs and Border Smuggling
In Homs province, Internal Security disrupted several smuggling operations. On Aug. 24, authorities in Qusayr intercepted ammunition concealed in milk barrels on a motorcycle bound for Lebanon. The same day, forces in Mukharram al-Fawqani uncovered mines hidden in bags inside a well.
The ministry noted that earlier seizures included a truckload of Grad missiles and large stockpiles of artillery and mortar shells east of Furqlus. Officials said the western and southern countryside remain active corridors for weapons trafficking. On Sept. 1, nine men accused of collaborating with the Assad regime were arrested in the Houla region, while another suspect, Saher al-Hassan, was detained in Dana, Idlib.
Damascus and Local Crimes
In the capital, Internal Security arrested a suspect on Aug. 25 after two young men were lured to Mount Qasyoun and shot. Brig. Gen. Osama Atka told SANA that one victim died and the other was hospitalized. Authorities said the perpetrator was transferred to military police custody.
Escalating Violence in Daraa
The southern province of Daraa experienced renewed bloodshed. On Sept. 1, unidentified gunmen killed Shaman Fadhil al-Badah and injured Naji al-Rayhan on the Damascus-Amman highway near Saida. Hours earlier, civil society coordinator Munif al-Qaddah was shot in the head in Daraa al-Mahatta and hospitalized. A day later, an explosive device detonated outside a shop in Yadouda, causing material damage but no injuries.
Officials said efforts are underway to dismantle armed networks and seize unlicensed weapons in the province, which has seen persistent violence since the fall of the former regime in December 2024.
Recruitment and Public Messaging
On Sept. 2, the Interior Ministry announced new recruitment for its Special Tasks Department, requiring applicants aged 18 to 24 with a high school education. The training will cover law enforcement, rights protection and tactical skills.
That same day, Tartous Governor Ahmad al-Shami denied social media rumors of widespread raids, clarifying that recent operations targeted a single armed cell. He urged citizens to support security forces and avoid spreading misinformation.
