ISTANBUL/Anadolu

Syria's Interior Ministry announced on Sunday the dismantling of a 'criminal cell' consisting of 7 people who specialized in carrying out assassination operations in the al-Ghab region of Hama province (central), and the arrest of its members.

The official Syrian news agency (SANA) quoted a source in the Interior Ministry saying that internal security forces in Hama province dismantled a 'criminal cell that specialized in assassinations in the al-Ghab region'.

The source indicated that internal security forces arrested all members of the cell, numbering 7 people.

He stated that 'one of the detainees was proven to be involved in the assassination of a resident of the Sahlab area, which was documented in a video clip'.

This comes as part of a campaign by the new Syrian government to pursue former officials and members of the Assad regime, accused of involvement in violations against civilians during the years of the Syrian revolution between 2011 and 2024.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, the government has sought to impose security in Syria, while some groups insist on sowing chaos and carrying weapons, which Damascus has said it will not allow, and is determined to extend its control over all territory.

On December 8, 2024, Syrian rebels led by Ahmed al-Shara entered the capital Damascus, ending the rule of Bashar al-Assad's regime (2000-2024).