The Syrian Interior Ministry and general security forces arrested on Sunday armed groups loyal to Maher al-Assad, brother of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
They were busted in a series of security operations in the western Latakia province.
Among the detainees was Malek Ali Abou Saleh, leader of the coastal operations, and others who led armed groups involved in fighting in coastal areas in March. These groups attacked security checkpoints and military posts and received direct support from the Lebanese Hezbollah party, a strong ally of Assad.
The latest arrests are another blow to the remnants of the regime following the arrest of dozens of officers affiliated with them.
Head of internal security in Latakia Abdulaziz al-Ahmed said the latest detainees were part of “outlawed terrorist groups with direct ties to the former regime and members of the Assad family.”
He revealed that among the detainees was a colonel in the republican guard, Malek Abou Saleh. Security forces also arrested Waddah Suheil Ismail, who led terrorist operations in the area of Jableh, with the aim to destabilize the Syrian coast.
Al-Ahmed said security forces managed on Saturday and Sunday to arrest and dismantle a cell led by Maher Hussein Ali, who is accused of carrying out attacks against the security forces.
He was also preparing to carry out more attacks against military and security positions in Latakia, he revealed.
He said the leaders of these cells “were coordinating their work directly with Maher al-Assad and Hezbollah.”
They have received logistic support from Hezbollah and other sectarian parties, he added. They have since been referred to the judiciary for trial.
Bloody clashes had erupted along the coast in March when loyalists of the former regime ambushed members of the security forces. Over 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians.
A fact-finding mission recently accused remnants of the regime of being behind the attacks.
The Interior Ministry also released a list of 16 suspects involved in the coastal clashes, including Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of Bashar, who is wanted for smuggling drugs and other crimes.
