Syrian forces seize explosives in Homs refinery plot
The capture of a Hezbollah-linked cell marks the latest step in a year-long campaign to dismantle militia networks following the fall of the Assad regime.
By Ella Cox ·
Since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, the Syrian government has expanded its security operations against Hezbollah-linked groups. The most recent action involved a joint raid by the General Intelligence Service and Internal Security Forces in the Homs area.
Officials stated that the operation thwarted a plot targeting the Homs refinery. Security forces arrested members of a cell affiliated with the Lebanese militia. Investigators seized explosive devices that had been prepared for the attack.
This operation follows a series of similar raids conducted over the past year. The new administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, views Hezbollah as a primary security threat. This stance reflects the militia's long-standing support for the former regime.
In 2013, Hezbollah entered the Syrian civil war to support Bashar al-Assad. Significant fighting occurred around al-Qusayr near the Lebanese border. Syria also served as a key land route for Iranian weapons shipments destined for Hezbollah.
Security forces have prioritized dismantling these established networks. The campaign includes arrests, operations against smuggling routes, and occasional clashes along the Lebanese border. In February 2025, the Public Security Department reported apprehending groups in the al-Qutayfah area of the Damascus countryside.
Those individuals were engaged in smuggling and selling weapons to Hezbollah. A subsequent operation in March 2025 targeted cells in the Sayyida Zaynab area. The Ministry of Interior and the Damascus Countryside Security Directorate led the mission to stop groups planning criminal activities.
In September 2025, authorities arrested a cell in the Sasa and Kanaker areas. The group was allegedly trained in Lebanon. Forces seized 19 Grad rockets, anti-tank missiles, and their launchers. A raid in February also targeted a cell in the Mezzeh district near a major military airport in Damascus. Officials said that cell was responsible for firing rockets at the airfield.
Operations continued in May with coordinated arrests in multiple provinces. Investigators found weapons, explosives, and surveillance equipment linked to a group planning assassinations of senior officials. In July, authorities seized shipments of missiles, anti-tank weapons, and drones. Reports suggested the cargo was destined for Hezbollah.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
