(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syria's Bashar al-Assad backed by Russian Intelligence reports has dismantled an espionage network, including top security and army officers, a-well-informed source told Zaman al-Wasl Saturday.
Maj. General Ma'an Hussein, one of Assad's top aides and the head of the army's communication department, has been arrested amid high security procedures.
The arrest campaign has included senior Intelligence officers, the source said.
The source said the espionage network is most probably linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Two weeks ago, the finance ministry ordered the "precautionary seizure" of assets belonging to Hussein, his wife and children.
The main mission of the communication department, which coordinates with security and military services, is to spy on the Syrian telecommunications, and monitor local TV channels, social media accounts.
The State Intelligence, backed by information and data from the Russian intelligence, has tracked the network following the death of Iran's Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani on January 7 in Baghdad.
At the time, initial reports have accused a Syrian agent of providing information about the Soleimani's movements inside Syria and the exact time of his departure from Damascus airport before his death in a U.S. drone attack two hours later.
The CIA has a deep and long history in Syria since it had delivered and made up Syria's first military coup in March 1949.
Then-army chief of staff, Husni al-Za'im took over the power, overthrowing President Shukri al-Quwatli.
Zaman Al Wasl
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