Syria foils ISIS bombing attempt at Shia Shrine in Damascus suburb

Syrian authorities have successfully thwarted an attempted bombing targeting the Sayyida Zaynab shrine, a highly revered Shia site in the suburbs of Damascus, a source within Syria's intelligence agency said.

The source confirmed that intelligence and security forces were able to prevent the ISIS (Islamic State) plot before it could be carried out, Caliber.Az reports citing Syrian media.

The Syrian Interior Ministry released images of four men arrested during the operation, who were identified as members of an ISIS cell operating in the area. The ministry's statement included photos of various equipment seized from the suspects, including smartphones, two rifles, three explosive devices, and several hand grenades. The arrested individuals were identified as two Lebanese nationals and a Palestinian refugee living in Lebanon.

The Sayyida Zaynab shrine, one of the most significant Shia pilgrimage sites in Syria, has previously been targeted by extremist groups, including ISIS. The shrine is located in a suburb of Damascus, a region that has been a focal point of sectarian violence during Syria's prolonged civil war. Iran-backed forces, who have supported President Bashar al-Assad since the war began in 2011, have historically provided security at the shrine. However, reports suggest that these guards fled the area shortly before opposition forces entered the capital last month.

This foiled attempt is part of a broader pattern of attacks by ISIS, which has frequently targeted Shia shrines in both Syria and neighboring Iraq. In July 2023, ISIS claimed responsibility for a bombing near the Sayyida Zaynab mausoleum that killed at least six people.

The successful prevention of this bombing plot highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS, as well as the heightened security efforts by Syrian authorities to protect sensitive religious sites in the midst of the country's complex and volatile conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva