Syria foils church bombing linked to 'Assad regime remnants'
The Interior Ministry said Ramzi Hamoud and Mundhir Ali planned to attack the Mar Elias Maronite Church in the Tartus region on Syria's coast. It said the two men were 'en route to carry out a terrorist operation' when they were held.
The 'meticulously planned ambush' was carried out by a Special Tasks Unit of the local security forces in Tartus. They seized an explosive device, a black flag and some papers containing written threats to local residents, the ministry said.
The attack would have involved detonating explosives inside the church, said local security commander Abdul Aal Mohammed Abdul Aal. 'We assure our dear people that our eyes will not waver for a moment from monitoring these criminal schemes,' he said.
The two suspects are being held awaiting a court process. The ministry said they were 'affiliated with one of the outlawed groups linked to remnants of the former regime', without giving details. Mr Al Assad was overthrown by a rebel offensive last December that brought former Islamist fighter Ahmad Al Shara to power.
A series of bloody incidents have set back Mr Al Shara's attempts to consolidate control of Syria after years of civil war that devastated Syria's economy. In June, 25 people were killed in a church bombing in Damascus that authorities blamed on ISIS, the worst attack for years in the capital.
A flurry of violence on the coast killed more than 1,000 people in March, mainly from Mr Al Assad's Alawite sect, which has lost influence under the new regime in Damascus.
In recent weeks the southern area of Sweida has witnessed brutal fighting involving the Druze minority, Bedouin tribesmen and government forces, leaving hundreds of people dead.
The National revealed last month how Syria's new authorities have stepped up a manhunt for Assad regime loyalists. Thousands of people believed to be wanted for war atrocities remain at large, although the government has not made a list public.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Rising crime poses challenge for Syrian authorities as stability remains elusive
Every August, Syrian architect Fayyad Salem escapes the heat in Damascus by heading to the mountain town of Marmarita, in the west of the country. When he embarked on the two-hour drive this week, his brother-in-law insisted on going with him. 'He thought it would be safer because of the highway robberies and kidnapping,' Mr Salem said. 'We are both unarmed and his presence would not help.' When the two men reached Marmarita, it was empty. Thousands of tourists and people who owned second homes in the town continued to travel there during the civil war, when security personnel at regime roadblocks extorted passengers, but the road was considered relatively safe. 'Marmarita is dead. No one goes there any more. They are afraid to be on that road,' Mr Salem said. Nine months after former president Bashar Al Assad was deposed, rising crime has posed a challenge to a drive by the new government to portray Syria as ready for investment and encourage the return of the country's diaspora. Since the start of this year, 254 people have been killed for apparently non-political reasons across the country, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Clashes this year have also led to the deaths of Alawites, Druze and Bedouins. Displacement and a lack of full-year data makes it difficult to compare the statistics to previous levels. The observatory said the 254 reported killed this year included 40 women and 14 children. The largest proportion of the deaths occurred in the southern province of Deraa, where 52 lost their lives. It found that 41 were killed in Damascus and the surrounding areas, while 18 died in northern Aleppo province. Seventeen people were killed in the coastal province of Latakia, 28 died in Hama and 18 were killed in Homs. During the civil war, the Assad regime carried out indiscriminate bombing campaigns on rebel cities and towns, and tortured and killed its opponents. Passing through its security roadblocks involved paying bribes, while protection rackets in big cities were often formed from within the system. Amid persistent instability in Syria, cases of armed robbery, kidnappings and car theft have become common, business owners said. "A Beretta with an 18-round magazine is on me all the time," said an Aleppo merchant who has been making regular trips to Damascus to expand his retail businesses. In Maliki, the most affluent district of the capital, actress Diala Al Wadi was found dead in her apartment on Sunday. Residents said her apartment had been burgled. Within 24 hours, security forces arrested a man suspected of killing her, as well as detaining her housekeeper in connection with the crime. Justice Minister Mazhar Al Wais said the state would punish those involved 'as a warning to anyone who dares violate innocent lives". A similar case in Maliki last month has not yet been solved. Amal Al Bustani, a doctor living in the area, was killed in her home, along with her housemaid. 'Going into homes and killing their owners and robbing them used to be unheard of in Maliki,' said Ramez Alaas, a contractor who lives in the neighbourhood. Under the former regime, secret police were posted in Maliki because Mr Al Assad lived there, as had his father, Hafez. A commander in the Damascus police force acknowledged that crime 'is a problem' but said authorities planned to install security cameras and had already sent more officers to catch 'everything from traffic violations to public safety threats'. He said the size of the force had been increased, having faced a severe shortfall when the former regime fell and members of its security forces fled. In Aleppo, the country's business capital, the authorities have been installing cameras after a wave of kidnappings in which workers and managers of factories on the edge of the city were held for ransom. Aleppo remains a close-knit society and more criminals appear to be apprehended there than in Damascus, but economic malaise and an influx of migrants from neighbouring Idlib has kept lawlessness rife, according to a textile factory owner in Aleppo. 'It is understandable that it will take time to establish law and order, but people are becoming fed up,' the industrialist said. 'A replica of the old system is developing – gangs close to the regime who are untouchable."
Arabian Business
10 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Syria signs $4bn deal with Qatar-backed consortium to rebuild Damascus Airport as regional aviation hub with 90,000 jobs
The Syrian government has signed a $4bn memorandum of understanding with an international consortium led by Qatar's UCC Holding to redevelop Damascus International Airport into one of the region's most advanced aviation hubs. The agreement, signed under the patronage of President Ahmad Al Sharaa and with the support of the Qatari government, represents one of the largest foreign investments in Syria in decades and a cornerstone of the country's post-conflict reconstruction and economic recovery strategy. The international consortium includes UCC Concessions Investments (Qatar), Assets Investments USA (USA), and Turkish giants Cengiz İnşaat, Kalyon İnşaat, and TAV Tepe Akfen. Qatar-backed consortium to develop Damascus Airport in Syria The deal was signed in Damascus in the presence of senior Syrian officials, diplomats, and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack. The project will be delivered in five Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) phases, aiming to increase the airport's capacity to: 6m passengers in the first year 16m by the second phase 31m annually at full completion The upgraded airport will feature 32 modern gates, advanced air navigation systems, and a world-class duty-free zone with luxury retail and dining. It will adhere to ICAO and IATA standards, positioning it among the most advanced aviation facilities in the Middle East. The project will include: Up to 50km of new access roads $250m financing to acquire 10 Airbus A320 aircraft for Syrian Airlines Creation of more than 90,000 direct and indirect jobs A massive boost to trade, tourism, and local supply chains Mohammad Moataz Al-Khayyat, Chairman of UCC Holding, said the project showcases the strength of international cooperation. He said: 'This project embodies the outcome of a strategic partnership bringing together a select group of leading international companies with a unified goal: rebuilding one of Syria's most vital facilities in a way that reflects its future ambitions'. Mr. Ramez Al-Khayyat, UCC President and Group CEO, added: 'This project is not just about redeveloping Damascus International Airport; it is a strategic bridge carrying Syria toward a future of recovery and prosperity. 'We are investing in a sustainable development vision that enhances trade and tourism, connects Syria to the world at the highest standards, and stimulates economic growth and investment across all sectors. 'Leveraging Syria's strategic location and our extensive local and regional partnerships, Damascus International Airport will become a model for advanced, smart transportation projects in the region.' The consortium's track record includes some of the world's most significant aviation projects, such as: Hamad International Airport (Qatar) Istanbul New Airport (Turkey) – the world's largest Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia) Tripoli Airport (Libya) Cairo International Airport Terminal 3 (Egypt) Sani Şener, Chairman of TAV, highlighted the economic significance: 'We view this project as a strategic investment opportunity that goes beyond infrastructure development. It is a gateway to revitalising the Syrian economy and reintegrating it into regional and global trade and investment flows. 'We bring to this investment our accumulated expertise in developing and operating major transportation projects to deliver a world-class airport that enhances the efficiency of the aviation sector, boosts the attractiveness of the Syrian market to global capital, and paves the way for a new era of growth and stability.'
The National
12 hours ago
- The National
Syria secures funds for Airbus jets amid Damascus airport expansion plans
Syria secured financing to modernise the fleet of national carrier Syrian Airlines with Airbus planes as it redevelops Damascus International Airport, as interest from foreign investors in its post-war economy increases. The Syrian government signed an initial pact for $250 million in financing to buy up to 10 Airbus A320 narrow-body planes for Syrian Airlines with a consortium of companies led by Qatar's UCC Holding. The purchase is "aimed at enhancing the fleet and increasing the competitiveness of the national carrier", UCC Holding said. Airbus declined to comment on the deal. "As a general rule, we never discuss any discussions we may or may not have with our airline customers," a representative told The National. The funding is part of a wider $4 billion initial agreement to redevelop the Damascus airport with UCC Holding and US-based Assets Investments, as well as Turkish companies Cengiz, Kalyon and airport operator Tav. This was part of an announcement of 12 major strategic projects valued at $14 billion. Once finalised, the deal would help revitalise Syria's long-neglected aviation sector after years of civil war that has left its infrastructure in a dire state. Aviation potential Aviation authorities in Gulf states have been lobbying the International Air Transport Association and the UN aviation body ICAO to "play a pivotal role" in developing Syria's aviation industry, underscoring its importance to the region, and in ensuring that "no state is left behind", Kamil Al Awadhi, regional vice president of Africa and Middle East at Iata, told The National. Asked about the potential for Syria's aviation industry to develop once US and European sanctions lift, Mr Al Awadhi said: "If everything went well, it will go boom." However, the scope of growth depends on the amount of investment that goes into upgrading the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airports, ground handling capabilities, improving regulations and restructuring airlines, he said. Another factor in the growth of Syria's air travel industry will be foreign countries easing visa rules to allow more Syrians to travel, he added. An increasing number of international airlines – including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines – have resumed flights to Damascus. Airlines – especially state-owned Syrian Air and private operator Cham Wings – have long operated with an ageing fleet under a severe shortage of parts, often relying on black-market channels or cannibalising grounded planes. Sanctions relief would, for the first time in years, allow these airlines to legally source OEM (original equipment manufacturer)-certified parts from Airbus, Boeing and their tier-one suppliers, which could significantly improve safety standards and reliability, Linus Bauer, founder and managing director of consultancy BAA & Partners, told The National. In the medium to long term, sanctions relief could re-enable commercial aircraft orders with major OEMs, which were previously blocked due to US components being embedded in virtually all commercial jets, he said at the time. Syrian Airlines has a fleet of 12 planes, including Airbus A320s and larger A340s, though most of the planes are listed as parked, Bloomberg reported, citing tracking website Planespotters. The Damascus airport expansion project follows on the heels of several multibillion-dollar deals that Syria has signed with regional countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia to build everything from power stations to subways.
