Syrian Security Forces Uncover Cell Behind Damascus Airport Strikes; Weapons Linked to Hezbollah

DAMASCUS, Feb 1 (Reuters) — Syrian security forces have dismantled a cell accused of carrying out a series of rocket attacks on the Mezzeh military airport in Damascus, with officials stating that the seized weapons were traced back to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Interior Ministry said on Sunday that surveillance operations across several districts of the capital led to the arrest of all members of the group, which had allegedly launched multiple strikes against the airport in recent months. Authorities also confiscated a number of drones that the cell was preparing to use in future operations, according to the statement.

While the ministry did not explicitly name Hezbollah in its official release, investigators cited in the report said the rockets and other armaments originated from stockpiles left by the group in Syria. Hezbollah, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the country's long civil war, maintained a significant military footprint across Syria until scaling back its presence in recent years.

In response, Hezbollah issued a sharp denial, stating it has "no activity or ties with any armed factions inside Syria" and dismissing the allegations as "baseless."

The arrests come amid heightened regional tensions and reported behind-the-scenes security negotiations involving Syria, Israel, and the United States. Last November, Reuters reported that Washington was exploring plans to establish a military presence at a Damascus airbase to facilitate a potential security agreement between Syria and Israel—a report the Syrian government has denied.

Security analysts note that Hezbollah’s alleged leftover weapon caches, including drones and rockets, have long been a concern for Syrian authorities, particularly as isolated attacks on military and infrastructure targets have persisted despite the group’s formal withdrawal from many areas.

Reactions & Analysis:

“This is a significant breakthrough for Syrian intelligence,” said Karim Al-Jamil, a Beirut-based security analyst. “It highlights the ongoing threat posed by residual militant networks and foreign-supplied arms, even in tightly controlled areas like Damascus.”

“The government’s narrative is convenient but lacks transparency,” countered Layla Hassan, a researcher at the Damascus Policy Initiative. “Without independent verification, these claims feel more like political messaging aimed at certain external actors than a factual security update.”

“Hezbollah’s denial is laughable,” fired David Stern, a former UN observer in the region. “Their fingerprints are all over this. It’s the same old proxy playbook—destabilize, deny, and deflect. The international community cannot keep turning a blind eye.”

“Whether true or not, this accusation will further strain Beirut-Damascus relations,” noted Rana Farouk, a journalist covering Levant affairs. “It adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile security landscape.”

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)