Syria security forces arrest 'Hezbollah operative' in Homs

Syria's Interior Ministry said on Sunday that security forces had arrested a person affiliated to Hezbollah who was planning to carry out "terrorist operations" in the country.

The man was found in possession of a number of explosive devices following a "pre-emptive" raid in Homs province, the ministry said in a statement on social media.

The ministry said that an initial investigation showed that the man was connected to a cell affiliated to the Lebanese armed group and that the devices were illegally smuggled into the country.

Since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, security forces have detained hundreds of people linked to the regime accused of committing war crimes during the country's 14-year civil war.

In the latest such arrest, the ministry announced last week it had apprehended a senior Assad army officer, Brigadier-General Riad Hamsho al-Shehada, who it said was responsible for killing hundreds of civilians.

Hezbollah was among the regime's closest allies and deployed thousands of troops to fight opposition groups alongside the Syrian army during the war.

The collapse of the Assad regime has heaped pressure on the Iran-backed group, which was already reeling from a bruising 13-month conflict with Israel.

Syria's new authorities have forced Hezbollah to withdraw from the country and have moved to shut down its smuggling networks, hampering its ability to move weapons and money over the Syria-Lebanon border.

It is also coming under pressure from the Trump administration, which is demanding the new Lebanese government force it to surrender its weapons.

US Syria envoy Tom Barrack last month handed Beirut an ultimatum demanding immediate steps towards disarming the group.

Since the ceasefire with Israel came into effect in November 2024, the Lebanese army has largely disarmed and dismantled Hezbollah military infrastructure south of the Litani River.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has ruled out full disarmament until Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon and ends its air strikes.

The Israeli military continues to occupy five areas of the south captured during the war and has launched hundreds of drone strikes against Hezbollah in the eight months since the ceasefire agreement.