ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian interior minister announced on Thursday that the cell responsible for the attacks targeting the security cordon protecting French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the capital Damascus on Tuesday has been arrested.
“The cell responsible for the terrorist bombings that targeted Damascus two days ago is now in our custody,” Anas Khattab posted on X, noting that “following the completion of the investigations, we will reveal to the public the identities of the cell members, their roles, and all their connections.”
During President Macron’s visit to Syria, which marked the first visit by a Western head of state since the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, two explosions rocked the city, killing one person and injuring 30 others.
Syrian officials said the explosive devices had been planted minutes before detonating and were aimed at the security cordon protecting the French President.
Macron said during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, "We must not let ourselves be destabilized" by such attacks, reiterating his country's support for Syria.
Following the explosions, Khattab said the new authorities in Damascus “are working with all diligence and determination to accelerate Syria’s development path, enhance its security, restore its rightful place among nations, and build a future worthy of its people.”
He affirmed that “the acts of sabotage … targeting our civilian population and security forces” will only prompt state institutions to “perform their duty to protect citizens, enhance security, and pursue all those behind these terrorist acts.”
The arrest of the cell came hours after the dismantling of several cells belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the interior ministry.
In a statement on X, the ministry said its "specialized units," in cooperation with the Syrian intelligence service, "carried out a series of targeted security operations that resulted in the dismantling of several ISIS cells" in southern Syria.
The operations led to the arrest of a "prominent [ISIS] commander, Firas al-Dagher," who had risen through the group's leadership ranks to be appointed "Wali [Governor] of Lebanon and Palestine," read the statement, adding that he also served as the personal bodyguard to ISIS's "Caliph."
Since the December 2024 ouster of longtime Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership in Damascus, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has faced a series of security challenges and insurgent incidents as it works to stabilize the country.
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