Syria announces arrest of ‘terrorist cell’ member in Latakia

ISTANBUL

Syrian authorities said on Sunday that a “terrorist cell” member was apprehended in the northwestern province of Latakia.

The Interior Ministry said that an individual named Basel Issa Ali Jamahiri was arrested in the village of Duweir Ba‘bada in the Jableh countryside on charges of being a member of the cell known as “Saraya al-Jawad,” affiliated with the former special forces commander Suheil al-Hassan.

Several weapons and ammunition hidden in various locations were confiscated, the ministry added.

Suheil al-Hassan was a commander in the army of the ousted Assad regime and is widely known as one of the most associated figures with repression against Syrians during the years of the revolution, between 2011 and 2024. He is also attributed a prominent role in the regime’s adoption of a policy of violently suppressing popular protests, including the use of barrel bombs.

The ministry explained that the latest arrest was part of a security operation carried out by the Internal Security Command in Latakia province on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Syrian authorities announced the seizure of improvised explosive devices and various weapons during a security operation targeting the “Saraya al-Jawad” cell, which resulted in the arrest of one cell member and the neutralization of three others.

The new Syrian administration is working to tighten security conditions nationwide and to pursue remnants of the former regime accused of stirring security unrest.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration headed by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.