Syrian border guards arrest Assad-linked infiltrators

• Syrian forces detain twelve suspects crossing from Lebanon, including former officers tied to the ousted Assad regime.
• Arrests follow reports of covert efforts to destabilize Syria through armed cells and financing networks.

Syrian border guards arrested 12 people, including former officers linked to the ousted Assad regime, as they attempted to infiltrate the country from Lebanon through the border with the Homs governorate, state media reported.

Syria’s official TV said the arrests were carried out overnight by Border Guard forces and cited the Defense Ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate. The detainees were transferred to competent authorities for legal action. 

Read more: Syrian forces arrest five suspects linked to Palmyra Daesh attack

Links to destabilization efforts

The arrests came days after a New York Times investigation reported covert movements led by senior figures from the former regime aimed at stirring unrest and undermining the new Syrian government through financial and weapons support to outlaw groups.

Two prominent figures were involved: former Special Forces commander Suheil al-Hassan and former Military Intelligence chief Kamal al-Hassan. The report said they distributed funds and recruited fighters, according to the investigation.

The investigation cited text messages indicating that Suheil al-Hassan met collaborators in Lebanon and Iraq, as well as inside Syria, over the past year.

Read more: Syrian security forces dismantle Daesh cell in Aleppo operation

Security operations in Latakia

The report coincided with a Syrian Interior Ministry announcement of a security operation in the rural areas of Latakia in northwestern Syria targeting a cell calling itself “Sarayat al-Jawad”.

On Wednesday, authorities said they seized explosive devices and a range of weapons during the operation against the Suheil al-Hassan-linked cell. One suspect was arrested and three others were “neutralized”, according to official statements.

Latakia’s internal security chief, Abdulaziz Hilal al-Ahmad, said the cell was involved in assassinations, field executions, and bombings. He added that it targeted internal security and army positions and planned attacks during New Year celebrations.

The Interior Ministry released images showing seized explosives, weapons, ammunition, and military vests recovered during the operation.

Post-Assad security push

Suheil al-Hassan is widely regarded as one of the most repressive figures during the Syrian uprising from 2011–2024, with a prominent role in crushing protests through violence and the use of barrel bombs.

On December 8, 2024, Syrian revolutionaries entered Damascus and announced the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, who inherited power from his father Hafez al-Assad. Since then, the new Syrian administration has intensified security measures nationwide, pursuing remnants of the former regime accused of attempting to fuel instability.