Syria busts Hezbollah-linked cell: interior ministry

Syria said Thursday that its forces dismantled a cell affiliated with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, a key ally of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.

"Specialised units in cooperation with the general intelligence service... were able to arrest a terrorist cell belonging to the Hezbollah militia that was active" in the Damascus countryside, an interior ministry statement said, quoting a local commander.

"Preliminary investigations showed that the cell members underwent training in military camps in Lebanese territory, and were planning to carry out operations inside Syrian territory that threaten national security and stability," the statement said.

Forces seized ammunition and weapons including Grad-type rockets, launchers and anti-tank missiles, it said, adding the case was referred to the judiciary.

Hezbollah later denied in a statement it had any presence or activity on Syrian territory.

Hezbollah fighters helped Assad claw back territory during Syria's civil war, which erupted in 2011 after the repression of anti-regime protests.

The militant group openly backed Assad from 2013 until his ouster last December by an Islamist-led alliance.

Hezbollah, heavily weakened in a recent war with Israel, lost a key supply route from backer Iran through Syria after the new authorities took power.

In March, Lebanon and Syria signed an agreement to address border security threats after clashes left 10 dead.

This week, the office of Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar said two specialised committees had held their first meeting in Damascus to discuss security and judicial matters.