Today (Tuesday), the Syrian authorities announced that they had arrested a Hezbollah cell near the occupied Golan, which they said was “planning to carry out operations,” without providing further details, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
A statement by the Internal Security Forces, broadcast by Syrian state television, said: “In a pre-emptive security operation, the General Intelligence Service, in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces, foiled a sabotage plan in the Yarmouk Basin in Daraa and arrested a cell belonging to the (Hezbollah) militia, consisting of 3 people: (F.K.), (Z.M.), and (L.A.).”
The statement continued, "The operation came as a result of careful monitoring of the cell's attempt to prepare missile launching platforms with the aim of launching attacks to destabilize security and stability. The platforms were completely dismantled while investigations continue with the detainees in preparation for their referral to the competent judiciary to receive their just punishment."
Hezbollah fought alongside the forces of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the years of the conflict that began in 2011.
Under Assad's rule, Syria was part of the "axis of resistance" led by Iran and formed a supply chain and link between Tehran and Hezbollah.
The new authorities who ousted Assad in late 2024 took a conservative stance against Iranian influence and the party.
It repeatedly announced the dismantling of cells affiliated with the Hezbollah group, which it said were planning to carry out attacks in Syria, and the seizure of arms shipments that it said were destined for it, while the party denied these accusations.
With funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Syria witnessed, yesterday and today, the opening of a number of schools in rural Damascus and rural Homs as part of the damaged schools rehabilitation project, which targets schools in the governorates of rural Damascus, Aleppo, Idlib, and Homs, with the aim of creating an environment conducive to education and supporting recovery.
The program includes the rehabilitation of 60 schools, benefiting more than 50,000 students, with the aim of improving the educational environment and raising the readiness of schools, according to media statements by the director of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid in Syria, Dr. Nayef Al-Shammari.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, established in May 2015, is headquartered in the capital, Riyadh, and provides assistance in the areas of food security, health, education, shelter, and others.
The importance of the project is highlighted in returning Syrian children to school, according to a statement by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Syria, Ghazi bin Rafi Al-Anzi, during the opening of a school in the town of Harran Al-Awamid, in the Damascus countryside, today, Tuesday. The ambassador said that the program includes restoring and furnishing schools and equipping them with solar electrical energy.
Ambassador Al-Enezi indicated that the selection of the targeted schools and areas is done according to their needs and in coordination with government agencies, pointing out that there are plans to implement other projects in Syria, including rehabilitating additional schools and caring for orphans, to support recovery and improve services for the most needy groups.
The commercial school was opened in Harran Al-Awamid in the Damascus countryside, among ten schools that were rehabilitated, implemented by the “Sham Humanitarian Foundation” and funded by the “King Salman Centre”, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, within the context of the partnership between government agencies, donors, organizations and the private sector in supporting the educational process.
As for the Homs countryside, 35 schools were rehabilitated with an estimated capacity of about 18,000 students, to meet the increasing need with the return of people to their areas.
With much gratitude, the people of the city of Qusayr in the Homs countryside in central Syria expressed their joy at the opening of six rehabilitated schools in their city on Monday. Engineer Zaid, who leads a volunteer team, said that the schools, which were out of service, returned much better than we expected, and what we dreamed that our schools would be in terms of educational equipment, the provision of alternative energy systems, and the furnishing of classrooms. He pointed out that the rehabilitation work included maintaining doors and windows, painting the walls, rehabilitating the courtyard, facilities, and bathrooms, in addition to carrying out tiling work and installing curtains, fans, and heaters.
Zaid considered rehabilitating schools and advancing the educational process in Syria after the war one of the most important priorities, especially with the presence of thousands of Syrian children out of school, especially those returning from displacement and asylum camps in neighboring countries to destroyed areas where most of the schools are out of service.
It is worth noting that the Directorate of Education in Homs has completed maintenance work for 70 schools in service in the city of Homs and its countryside, as part of efforts to improve the reality of schools, support the continuation of the educational process, and increase the absorptive capacity of the educational system, according to SANA.
On Wednesday, the official authorities in Baghdad are preparing to end the mission of the international coalition to fight ISIS, with the departure of foreign forces led by the United States.
The security authorities in the country confirm that the process of withdrawal of these forces has been completed from most of the sites and camps where the American forces and international coalition forces were located, including the “Harir” camp in the Kurdistan region.
However, members of the Iraqi parliament are talking about the possibility of American soldiers remaining, according to the fact that “the agreement signed by the Iraqi government in 2024 with Washington stipulates the withdrawal of international coalition forces and not American forces,” which sources deny and confirm that the withdrawal includes all forces.
The Iraqi authorities named “Sovereignty Day” on September 30, which coincides with the departure of the international coalition forces.
The government of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had previously named the date of June 30, 2009, “National Sovereignty Day” on the occasion of the withdrawal of American forces from cities and towns and the handover of the security file to the Iraqi forces. Then, it renamed the date “Loyalty Day” to the complete American withdrawal from Iraqi territory at the end of 2011.
Amid Kurdish fears about the withdrawal process and the potential security risks that may result from it, in addition to popular indifference, the official authorities are treating the event with interest as a date for “complementing national sovereignty and strengthening independence.” In addition to the state of welcome and satisfaction declared by the armed factions loyal to Iran with this event.
Although routine life continues normally in Baghdad and most governorates, the government authorities sought to devote a kind of joy and attention to the day of withdrawal by suspending official working hours in government departments and institutions for 4 days, starting Wednesday and ending next Saturday.
“Festive atmosphere”
Government sources spoke of “remembrance vigils for the martyrs of Iraq,” in addition to celebrations and campaigns to promote the occasion conducted by official institutions, channels, and newspapers.
The official news agency quoted representatives and officials as “praising the day of withdrawal,” and a member of the House of Representatives, Nasser Turki, said, “(September 30) represents an important historical day, which is the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraq, and this will reflect positively on attracting foreign investment opportunities, and the state’s strategic plans will be based on work in the service, economic, industrial and agricultural fields and taking into account the interests of its people.”
The head of the Security Media Authority, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, said, “Sovereignty Day represents a new page for Iraq’s relations with the countries of the world, based on common interests in accordance with Iraq’s vision and the interest of its people. It reflects the ability of the state and its institutions to bear the responsibility of protecting the country and facing security challenges, in a way that enhances the citizen’s confidence in the security and military institutions.”
He added, “The more sovereignty is established; The security decision has become more unified and clear, and the ability of the security services to enforce the law and protect citizens has been strengthened.”
Maan stressed that “confining weapons to the state, and applying the law to everyone, contribute to enhancing the state’s prestige and internal stability, and this is a governmental necessity and a priority in the governmental approach, in a way that enhances societal stability and peace.”
He stated that “the security and military services have an essential role in strengthening the authority of the state, especially by combating terrorism, protecting borders, and maintaining internal security.”
Maan believes that “Sovereignty Day will contribute to strengthening Iraq’s ability to attract local, regional and international investments and maintain the protection of the security of those investments by enhancing the prestige of the state and imposing the rule of law on all security, political, financial and economic sectors.”
