Suspected ISIS Cell Behind Damascus Bombings Arrested, Syria Says

Syrian authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of a cell responsible for a series of recent explosions in Damascus, including bombings that occurred during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit earlier this week. The Interior Ministry confirmed the arrests via an X/Twitter post, stating, "The cell responsible for the terrorist bombings that targeted Damascus two days ago is now in our grasp."

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The cell responsible for the terrorist bombings that targeted Damascus two days ago is now in our grasp.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, citing a Syrian security source, reported that the arrested group belonged to the Islamic State (ISIS). The Syrian Interior Ministry further detailed that the dismantling of the cell was achieved through a "complex security operation and precise intelligence follow-up," involving cooperation between internal security forces and the General Intelligence Agency. Simultaneous raids were conducted across various locations in Damascus and its countryside.

Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati, the Internal Security Forces commander for the rural Damascus province, told state television that investigators identified a suspect using security camera footage. This led to tracking the individual and subsequently identifying the other members of the terrorist cell. "We were able to track down one member of the cell responsible for the July 7 Damascus bombings, and by monitoring him we identified the rest of the group's members," al-Dalati stated, as reported by The Associated Press.

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Through a complex security operation and precise intelligence follow-up, the internal security forces succeeded, in cooperation and coordination with the General Intelligence Agency, in dismantling the entire terrorist cell responsible for the recent Damascus bombings.

While ISIS has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, the bombings caused significant disruption and casualties. One explosion near a hotel where Macron was scheduled to stay killed one person and injured 36 others. The devices were planted in a vehicle in a crowded area near the Syrian tourism ministry and national museum.

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We were able to track down one member of the cell responsible for the July 7 Damascus bombings, and by monitoring him we identified the rest of the group's members.