Damascus says it foiled attack against religious figure and arrested members of a cell allegedly linked to Hezbollah

The Syrian Interior Ministry announced Saturday that the counterterrorism directorate, in cooperation with the internal security leadership in the outskirts of Damascus, foiled a plot against a religious figure near a church, "targeting the safety of the capital," Damascus.

The ministry said via its Telegram channel, as cited by the state news agency Sana, that surveillance of suspicious movements in the capital allowed authorities to carry out their operation. "Specialized units spotted a woman belonging to the cell as she was placing an explosive device outside the home of one of the religious figures, near the Maronite church in the Bab Touma area," the statement emphasized.

The Interior Ministry said that units defused the device before it could explode, with no casualties or damage. It confirmed having arrested the five members of the cell and reported a connection between them and Hezbollah after preliminary investigations. "The members of the cell received specialized military training abroad, including skills in placing explosive devices," it said.

According to Syrian authorities, the investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the case and uncover all parties involved. The Interior Ministry vowed to continue its efforts to maintain security and apprehend outlaws, affirming that there will be "zero tolerance toward acts aimed at undermining the country's stability."