Russia-Backed ‘Eighth Brigade’ Arrests Hezbollah Agent in Southern Syria

A Russian patrol and members of the Eighth Brigade in southern Syria (Horan Free Group)
A Russian patrol and members of the Eighth Brigade in southern Syria (Horan Free Group)
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Russia-Backed ‘Eighth Brigade’ Arrests Hezbollah Agent in Southern Syria

A Russian patrol and members of the Eighth Brigade in southern Syria (Horan Free Group)
A Russian patrol and members of the Eighth Brigade in southern Syria (Horan Free Group)

The Eighth Brigade of the Russian-backed Corps, in the eastern countryside of Daraa, southern Syria, released the confessions of a Hezbollah operative admitting to his group plotting and carrying out assassinations in Daraa.

Based in the village of Saida in the eastern countryside of Daraa, Badr al-Shaabin was videotaped acknowledging that he was coordinating with an officer from the Syrian air force intelligence to target leaders and officers of the Eighth Brigade.

Al-Shaabin revealed that for each operation he plotted and implemented was receiving financial rewards that reach up to SYP 3 million.

Abu Mahmoud al-Horani, the official spokesman of the opposition’s Horan Free group, told Asharq Al-Awsat that a local group affiliated with the Eighth Brigade had raided al-Shaabin’s residence with the goal of arresting him after confirming his involvement in assassinations.

The Eighth Brigades had planted two moles in al-Shaabin’s cell to uncover its operations.

The cover of one of the moles was compromised and they were detained by al-Shaabin’s group. Eighth Brigade leaders then tried to mediate for the release of their spy with al-Shaabin’s father, but al-Shaabin was still answering the orders of his air force intelligence employers.

Al-Shaabin was ordered to kill the mole.

During mediation efforts, al-Shaabin fired shots injuring both his father and brother.

After hearing rounds of fire, Eighth Brigade units stationed around al-Shaabin’s residence stormed in and arrested al-Shaabin.

Before the arrest was made, clashes erupted for over two hours. Nidal al-Shaabin, one of al-Shaabin’s associates, was killed.

Al-Shaabin then surrendered, released the Eighth Brigade’s undercover agent, and taped his confessions.

Al-Hourani added that WhatsApp conversations between al-Shaabin and an assistant in the air force intelligence services nicknamed “Abu Wael,” showed his involvement in assassinations for the air force intelligence branch and the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia, in exchange for money, weapons and ammunition.



Syrian Government Denies its Forces Preparing to Redeploy to Sweida

FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
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Syrian Government Denies its Forces Preparing to Redeploy to Sweida

FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syria's interior ministry spokesperson said on Friday that government forces were not preparing to deploy to Sweida Province, the state news agency reported.

Noureddin al-Baba denied a Reuters report citing an interior ministry media officer as saying security forces were preparing to redeploy to Druze-majority Sweida city to quell fighting involving Bedouin tribes and the Druze.

A fragile truce was holding in Syria's south on Friday after a ceasefire announced on Wednesday briefly ended days of fighting that began when Bedouin and Druze fighters clashed in Sweida province in southern Syria, prompting the Syrian government to send in troops.

Syrian troops withdrew from Sweida after the truce was announced but clashes resumed late on Thursday.

Israel's military carried out new attacks in Sweida province overnight.

Israel has said it would not allow Syria's government to deploy troops to the south.