Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned what it described as “attempts aimed at destabilizing Syria and undermining public order,” which Syria’s Interior Ministry said it had uncovered on April 19.
In a statement issued Monday, April 20, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry affirmed its solidarity with Syria and its absolute rejection of any involvement by Lebanese nationals in harming Syria’s security or territorial integrity. Syria’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday, April 19, that it had foiled what it described as a “sabotage” plot in Quneitra, southern Syria, by a cell linked to Hezbollah that was allegedly preparing a rocket attack to destabilize the area.
The Internal Security Command in Quneitra said the operation was carried out in cooperation with the General Intelligence Service and followed what it described as careful surveillance of the movements of suspected individuals, without specifying the time frame of the operation.
According to the statement, members of the cell had prepared a civilian vehicle in a concealed manner to hide equipment intended for launching rockets, in an attempt to carry out a surprise attack before security forces seized the vehicle and equipment before they could be used.
The ministry added that security units seized a number of rockets and launch platforms, which it said had been prepared and hidden “professionally” inside the vehicle for use in “hostile acts.” It also said two people suspected of belonging to the cell were arrested over activities affecting the security of the area, while a third suspect remains at large and searches are ongoing.
The statement did not clarify the nature of the possible targets or the sites that were to be attacked. It also provided no further details about the detainees’ alleged link to the named group or how they obtained the equipment. The ministry said investigations are continuing to uncover the full circumstances of the case before the detainees are referred to the competent judiciary.
Hezbollah Denies Involvement
Lebanon’s Hezbollah denied what it called “false and fabricated allegations and accusations issued by the Syrian Interior Ministry” regarding a link to the cell arrested in Syria.
In a statement, the group stressed what it described as its repeated declaration that it has no presence inside Syrian territory and is not carrying out any activity there, regardless of its form or nature. The statement rejected the Syrian accusations “in full,” and expressed surprise at what it called repeated insistence on inserting its name into every security incident inside Syria.
Hezbollah added that the repeated accusations create the impression of a deliberate attempt to blame it for any incident to distort “the image of the resistance and its basic and sole role, which is confronting the Israeli enemy in defense of Lebanon and its people,” in its words.
Previous Accusations
Yesterday’s case was not the first in which Syria’s Interior Ministry accused Hezbollah of being behind an incident. It followed earlier cases, including the foiling of an attack targeting Damascus on April 11.
At the time, the Syrian Interior Ministry said preliminary investigations showed the cell was linked to Hezbollah, adding that its members had received military training outside the country, including skills in planting explosive devices.
The ministry said the operation followed “precise” security monitoring of what it described as suspicious movements inside the capital. It added that a woman was spotted while allegedly attempting to plant an explosive device in front of the home of a religious figure near the Mariamite Church in the Bab Touma area of Damascus.
Activists close to the government and media outlets quoted an official source as saying the target of the attack was rabbi Michael Houri in Damascus, though there has been no independent confirmation of that information so far.
The ministry added that security forces dismantled the device before it exploded, with no injuries or material damage reported. The ministry also said five people were arrested and identified them as the full membership of the cell.
The Syrian Interior Ministry had previously accused the Lebanese group, which was allied with the Assad regime and has a military wing within what is known as the Iran-linked Axis of Resistance, of being behind attacks in the Mezzeh area of Damascus earlier this year and late last year.
The ministry said preliminary investigations with those arrested showed links to external parties and that the rockets, launch platforms, and drones seized after those attacks originated from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has consistently denied any connection to security operations in Syria and says it is committed to Syria’s unity and stability, according to its statements.
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