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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)
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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.

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Arab World

Report: Western Powers Warn Syria over Foreign Fighters in Army

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
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Report: Western Powers Warn Syria over Foreign Fighters in Army

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)

US, French and German envoys have warned Syria's new rulers that their appointment of foreign fighters to senior military posts is a security concern and bad for their image as they try to forge ties with foreign states, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The warning from the US, part of Western efforts to get Syria's new leaders to reconsider the move, was delivered in a meeting between US envoy Daniel Rubinstein and Syria's de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday at the presidential palace overlooking Damascus, a US official said.

"These appointments will not help them with their reputation in the US," the official said.

The foreign ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, also broached the issue of foreign fighters drafted into the army during their meeting with Sharaa on Jan. 3, an official aware of the talks said.

Reuters reported the appointments on Dec. 30. The envoys' comments on the appointments have not previously been reported.

Sharaa's armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led an offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 and has since installed a government and disbanded the Assad-era army. It is now making efforts to reconstitute the armed forces.

Late last year, it made nearly 50 appointments including at least six foreign fighters, among them Chinese and central Asian Uyghurs, a Turkish citizen, an Egyptian and a Jordanian, Reuters reported at the time.

Three were given the rank of brigadier-general and at least three others the rank of colonel, a Syrian military source said.

HTS and allied groups have hundreds of foreign fighters in their ranks who came to Syria during the country's 13-year civil war, many of them followers of hardline interpretations of Islam.

Foreign capitals generally view foreign fighters as a key security threat as they suspect that some may seek to carry out attacks in their home countries after gaining experience abroad.

Officials of the new Syrian administration have said foreign fighters made sacrifices to help overthrow Assad and would have a place in Syria, adding they could be granted citizenship.

The Syrian defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The German foreign ministry did not comment.

A State Department spokesperson said Washington is in a continuing dialogue with the interim authorities in Damascus.

"Discussions have been constructive and have covered a wide range of domestic and international issues," the spokesperson said, adding there has been "tangible progress on counter-terrorism priorities, including ISIS."

The US official and a Western source said that Damascus explained the appointments of foreign fighters by saying they could not simply be sent back home or abroad where they may face persecution, and it was better to keep them in Syria.

The US official said authorities also explained that these people had helped rid Syria of Assad and some had been in the country for more than 10 years and so were part of society.