Syrian Ministry of Interior Foils Islamic State Terror Plot Targeting Damascus

ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday that internal security forces in the countryside of Damascus had foiled a terrorist plot by a cell affiliated with the Islamic State that was planning to carry out an attack targeting the Syrian capital.

In a statement issued on March 5, 2026, the ministry said the operation was carried out by the Internal Security Command in the Damascus countryside following a precise and extended intelligence operation that monitored the movements and activities of the cell’s members.

Authorities said security forces tracked the suspects for a period of time before identifying their location and launching a carefully planned raid that resulted in the arrest of all members of the cell. The detainees were identified as Omar Hashem, Mohammad Hamad, and Hussein Khalaf.

According to the statement, specialized engineering units also dealt with a car bomb that had been parked at a sensitive location and was prepared for remote detonation.

The vehicle was found to contain large quantities of highly explosive materials, including TNT and C4.

The ministry added that the suspects have been referred to the Counterterrorism Directorate for further investigation in order to uncover the cell’s broader network and any individuals who may have supported the planned attack, before transferring the case to the competent judicial authorities.

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