Tartus, Syria – Syrian authorities announced Thursday the apprehension of a cell allegedly connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. According to the Ministry of Interior, the arrests were made by internal security forces in Tartus, located in western Syria.
A spokesperson for the Ministry, Nour al-Din al-Baba, stated in an interview with Syrian state television that Abdul Ghani Qassab, described as a key figure with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, was among those detained. Al-Baba added that several of Qassab’s followers and sons were also taken into custody, and a significant cache of weapons and ammunition was seized during the operation.
The search for Qassab reportedly began following the liberation of Aleppo as part of the operation that commenced on November 27, 2024. Al-Baba claimed that Qassab had been working in coordination with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for over four decades. He further alleged that Qassab presented himself as a spiritual leader with divine knowledge, even claiming to be the Mahdi, a messianic figure in Islamic eschatology.
Al-Baba stated that Qassab’s activities primarily focused on recruiting young people from high schools and universities. The Ministry of Interior pledged to reveal further details regarding Qassab’s alleged external connections at a later time. According to authorities, Qassab not only served as a key ideological asset for Iran in Aleppo but also managed a recruitment center in the al-Adhamiya district. This center was allegedly used to conduct security operations against Syrians on behalf of Iran and the previous regime.
The Syrian Interior Ministry also reported that the remaining members of Qassab’s group, allegedly linked to remnants of the previous regime and supported by foreign agendas, were arrested during a specialized operation carried out by specialized units in coordination with the counter-terrorism branch in Tartus province. The arrests reportedly took place at a command center located in the province’s countryside.
As of now, there has been no immediate comment from Tehran regarding the Syrian Interior Ministry’s claims about the cell’s alleged connection to Iran.
