The Ministry of Interior in Damascus announced on Monday that it had dismantled a cell linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) following the attack on St. Elias Church in the Dweileh neighborhood of the capital.
According to an official statement by Interior Minister Anas Khattab, specialized security units, in coordination with the General Intelligence Service, intensified their efforts following the attack. Information was collected, evidence was analyzed, and a joint operations room was established to cross-reference the data.
The minister indicated that the operations resulted in precise raids in the Harasta and Kafr Batna areas, targeting ISIS cell sites. The raids resulted in clashes during which the cell leader and five members were arrested. Two other members were killed, one of whom was the main person involved in facilitating the suicide bomber's entry into the church, while the other was preparing to carry out a new attack in a neighborhood of the capital.
During the raid, security forces seized quantities of weapons and ammunition, in addition to explosive vests and mines. A motorcycle bomb was also found, which had been prepared for detonation.
The Minister of Interior concluded his statement by stressing that "these cowardly terrorist acts will only increase our resolve to pursue anyone who attempts to tamper with the nation's security," affirming that the response will be "firm and continuous against the dens of terrorism."
The Syrian Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement on Monday afternoon that the death toll from the terrorist bombing that targeted Mar Elias Church in Doueila, Damascus, yesterday, Sunday, has risen to 25 dead and 63 injured.
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