DAMASCUS — Officials from Syria’s emerging governing body have successfully intercepted a plot orchestrated by the Islamic State (IS) to detonate a bomb at the Shiite shrine located in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb of Damascus, as reported by local state media on Saturday.
According to the state news agency SANA, an anonymous source from the General Intelligence Service revealed that individuals linked to the IS cell, which was planning the attack, have been apprehended. This source emphasized that the intelligence agency is committed to utilizing all its resources to thwart any threats directed at the Syrian populace across various groups.
The area surrounding Sayyida Zeinab has previously suffered attacks targeting Shiite pilgrims by IS, a group adhering to a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam and viewing Shiites as heretics.
Earlier in 2023, a deadly incident occurred when an explosive-laden motorcycle detonated in Sayyida Zeinab, resulting in six fatalities and injuring numerous others, just one day before the significant Shiite observance of Ashoura.
The disclosure regarding the foiled bombing attempt appears to be a strategy by Syria’s new leadership to reassure the nation’s religious minorities, many of whom were perceived as supporters of the former regime under Bashar Assad.
Bashar Assad, an Alawite, aligned himself with Iran along with the Shiite militia group Hezbollah and Iranian-supported Iraqi forces throughout his governance.
The recent power shift has seen Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an ex-rebel faction that led the swift offensive to oust Assad last month, take control as the current ruling entity in Syria. HTS is recognized as a Sunni Islamist movement that previously had affiliations with al-Qaida, but later distanced itself from the organization.
HTS’s leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has advocated for religious coexistence since gaining authority in Damascus.
On the same day, the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, made a visit to Damascus for discussions with al-Sharaa.
Historically, the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria were strained during Assad’s term, as Lebanon’s political factions found themselves deeply divided over support for, or opposition to, Assad’s leadership.
Following their meeting, Mikati announced to the media that the two nations would establish a committee to address the issue of border demarcation, which has never been explicitly defined.
He also highlighted a collaborative effort aimed at tackling smuggling activities across the porous border.
“We need to exercise stricter control over various border matters, particularly illegal crossings, to eliminate smuggling operations between Lebanon and Syria,” Mikati stated.
One contentious topic is the Chebaa Farms region, currently held by Israel as part of the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967 and subsequently annexed. Most of the international community classifies this territory as occupied land.
Beirut and Damascus both assert that Chebaa Farms belongs to Lebanon, while the United Nations designates the area as part of Syria, suggesting that negotiations between Damascus and Israel should determine its future.
The lack of a clearly specified border between Lebanon and Syria only complicates this situation further.
When questioned about the demarcation of this region, al-Sharaa provided no definitive response.
“At this point, discussing the minute details of border demarcation may be premature. There are numerous pressing issues in Syria that cannot all be addressed simultaneously,” he remarked.
Al-Sharaa expressed hope that concerns regarding official border crossings would soon be resolved. He pointed out that Lebanese citizens, who once traveled easily into Syria without visas, are now prohibited from entry.
“Our goal is to enhance the social ties that bind us rather than diminish them. Any border impediments should eventually be removed, though this requires a more thorough discussion involving customs authorities,” al-Sharaa added.
