Syria: Islamic State was planning to blast bomb near Shiite shrine, plot thwarted by intelligence officials

Intelligence officials in Syria’s new de facto government thwarted a planned bombing by the Islamic State group at a prominent Shiite shrine in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, state media reported Saturday (January 12).

The state-run SANA news agency, citing an unnamed official in the General Intelligence Service, reported that members of the Islamic State cell involved in the plot were apprehended.

According to the official, the intelligence service is “putting all its capabilities to stand in the face of all attempts to target the Syrian people in all their spectrums.”

Sayyida Zeinab, a significant site for Shiite pilgrims, has previously been targeted by IS. The Sunni group, which considers Shiites infidels, has carried out attacks in the area, including a 2023 motorcycle bombing that killed six people and injured dozens a day before the holy day of Ashura.

New leadership reassures minorities

The announcement comes as Syria’s new rulers seek to reassure religious minorities in the aftermath of President Bashar Assad’s ousting. Sayyida Zeinab is a site of symbolic importance to Shiites, and the thwarted attack underscores ongoing tensions in the country.

Assad, a member of the Alawite minority, was closely allied with Shiite groups, including Iran, Hezbollah, and Iraqi militias. The new de facto rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that toppled Assad last month. HTS, a Sunni Islamist group, previously had ties with al-Qaeda but split from the organisation.

HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has since preached religious coexistence, a message aimed at easing sectarian fears. The group’s leadership has taken steps to maintain stability and security amid Syria’s complex religious and political dynamics.

Lebanese PM visits Damascus

In a related development, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Damascus on Saturday for talks with al-Sharaa.

Relations between Lebanon and Syria had been strained under Assad, with Lebanon’s political factions deeply divided over support for the former leader.

The meeting signals a potential thaw in ties between the two nations as Syria transitions under its new leadership.

With inputs from agencies