The arrests in al-Rastan, 25 km north of Homs city, followed electronic surveillance and an investigation, the forces said on Telegram.

According to the statement, the suspects created fake social media accounts carrying sectarian content under instructions from handlers abroad, published fabricated material glorifying the deposed regime, and monitored and photographed several security checkpoints.

Authorities said they also seized what they described as high-quality fabricated videos and images used to undermine public confidence and destabilize civil peace and social stability.

Legal procedures are underway to refer those involved to the judiciary, the Internal Security Forces said.

The forces urged the public to exercise caution over anonymous accounts spreading rumors and to rely on verified official sources for news.

(SANA)  Twenty people were injured in 23 traffic accidents across different parts of Syria during the past 24 hours, according to Civil Defense teams at the Ministry of Emergency Management and Disaster Administration.

The Civil Defense said on its Telegram channel Wednesday that its teams provided first aid to the injured, transported them to hospitals for necessary treatment, cleared accident debris and secured the affected sites.

The Civil Defense renewed its advice to drivers to reduce speed, ensure vehicles are in proper technical condition, including functioning brakes and windshield wipers, and avoid distractions while driving, such as mobile phone use.

Civil Defense teams also responded to 83 fires, including three fires in agricultural fields and crops and 80 separate incidents involving homes, shops, grasslands, trees, waste and electrical cables.

The fires were extinguished and their locations cooled, with no injuries reported. The damage was limited to material losses.

The Civil Defense said the response operations were part of its ongoing work to address emergencies and protect public safety across Syria.

Damascus, Sept. 16 (SANA) Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between Syria and the United States during a phone call on  Tuesday.

According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, al-Shaibani welcomed the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria, stressing the need for continued coordination to complete the necessary executive and technical measures to ensure that the decision has a practical and tangible impact on the economic and banking sectors.

The two sides stressed the importance of continued support for Syria’s stability and economic growth.

The call also covered regional developments and Syria’s role in supporting regional stability on the political and economic fronts.

Al-Shaibani and Rubio underscored the importance of continued consultation and coordination on issues of mutual interest to serve shared interests and support security and stability in the region.

Damascus, Sept. 16 (SANA) Syria seized 697 million Captagon pills, dismantled 90 international trafficking networks and shut down 17 production facilities in the 18 months following liberation, official figures showed, as authorities target the drug infrastructure left behind by the deposed regime.

The figures cover operations from December 8, 2024, through June 26, 2026. Further seizures reported in July and September show that the counter-narcotics campaign has continued beyond that period.

1,550 operations target Captagon infrastructure

The Drug Enforcement Department said authorities carried out 1,550 counter-narcotics operations during the 18-month period, dismantling 90 international trafficking networks, closing 17 Captagon production facilities and seizing 20 warehouses containing materials used in drug manufacturing.

Authorities also seized 15 tons of hashish, 10 million narcotic pills, 84.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 180 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of heroin and 221 tons of raw materials used in drug production.

The scale of the seizures reflects a campaign increasingly focused on production sites, supply chains and trafficking networks rather than individual shipments alone.

Major seizures continue after June tally

Before the June 26 tally, authorities seized 25 million Captagon pills concealed inside ceramic containers on May 20 and arrested all seven members of the cell involved.

Operations continued after the reporting period. The Drug Enforcement Department seized 1.3 million Captagon pills in Homs on July 17 and intercepted 850,000 pills coming from Lebanon on July 27.

Authorities later seized 206,000 pills in al-Nabk on September 12 and another 310,000 in Homs on September 13. Those seizures are separate from the 697-million-pill total reported through June 26.

Regional cooperation targets cross-border networks

Syria has expanded counter-narcotics cooperation with countries affected by regional drug trafficking.

The Drug Enforcement Department said Syrian authorities conducted 28 joint operations with Iraq, 13 with Jordan, nine with Türkiye and five with Saudi Arabia, alongside coordination with Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon and cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The cooperation has included intelligence-sharing, tracking transnational networks and intercepting shipments moving along regional trafficking routes.

Campaign expands to prevention

On June 26, the Interior and Health ministries launched the “Syria Without Drugs” campaign to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, adding prevention and public awareness to ongoing enforcement efforts.

The campaign complements security operations targeting traffickers, smuggling networks and methods used to conceal narcotics shipments.

UN says large-scale production disrupted

UNODC said in research published in December 2025 that the regional Captagon market had “drastically changed” since December 2024, when industrial-scale illicit manufacturing operations in Syria began to be dismantled.

The agency said large-scale illicit production had been disrupted, although manufacturing on an unknown scale was likely continuing to supply the regional market.

UNODC said 80% of Captagon seizures reported across the region between January 2019 and November 2025, where a country of origin was identified, pointed to Syria. That period is separate from the Syrian authorities’ post-liberation figures through June 26, 2026. The agency also cited Syrian authorities as reporting the dismantling of 15 industrial-scale laboratories and 13 smaller storage facilities following the liberation of Syria in December 2024.

Syria has sought to shift from being a major source of Captagon to a partner in regional counter-narcotics efforts, combining domestic enforcement with cross-border cooperation. Continued seizures in July and September indicate that dismantling remaining trafficking networks remains an ongoing challenge.

Abu Dhabi, Sept. 15 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa met on Tuesday with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss bilateral relations and ways to expand economic and development cooperation between Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen relations between the two countries, particularly in the economic and development sectors, and broaden opportunities for cooperation and partnerships to support development efforts and advance the shared interests of both countries and their peoples.

The talks also touched on the “2026 Arab Media Summit” and the issues addressed during the event.

President al-Sharaa and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also exchanged views on regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest, stressing the importance of continued coordination and joint efforts to support security and stability in the region.

Damascus, Sep. 15 (SANA) Syrian Arab Army Border Guard forces thwarted on Tuesday an attempt to smuggle quantities of drugs from Lebanon into Syrian territory, including Captagon, hashish, methamphetamine and marijuana.

Deir Ezzor, Sept. 15 (SANA) The Syrian Atomic Energy Commission and the Hazardous Materials Response Directorate at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management have removed hazardous chemical waste discovered at a school in Al-Shaahfa in Deir Ezzor countryside after civilians reported its presence.

The commission said on Monday that specialized teams collected samples from the containers for laboratory analysis to identify their contents and determine safe disposal procedures.

An initial technical assessment found three large cylinders buried in the schoolyard, two of which were sealed and remained in a safe condition, the commission said.

Following a field inspection that examined the cylinders’ shape, size, markings and color, along with instrument readings, technical teams determined that the containers held industrial liquefied chlorine gas (Cl₂-LPG), according to the commission.

The specialized teams secured the site in line with safety procedures for handling hazardous chemicals and removed the cylinders from the school to protect the surrounding area pending their safe disposal.

The commission said the operation was carried out to safeguard public safety and maintain a secure educational environment by neutralizing the chemical hazard and transferring the materials for disposal in accordance with approved protocols.

It urged residents to immediately contact relevant authorities, emergency response teams or the Syrian Civil Defense upon finding unfamiliar or suspicious objects, and to avoid approaching, moving or tampering with them.

The commission said that in a separate operation on July 16, specialized teams contained and transported a deteriorated armored container containing radioactive materials discovered on the outskirts of Al-Waer neighborhood in Homs.

The operation demonstrated the commission’s commitment to radiation safety and nuclear security standards, it said, adding that no elevated radioactive leakage was detected and that there was no radiological risk or threat to public health or the environment.

The media directorate said President al-Sharaa will take part in a special session titled “Syria of the Future,” during which he will outline Syria’s vision for the next phase and address key issues related to the country’s future track and the transformations it is undergoing.

President al-Sharaa’s participation comes as part of the summit, which brings together senior officials, decision-makers, media leaders and Arab media organizations to discuss the state of media in the region, the transformations reshaping the sector and its role in covering major Arab issues and developments.

The Government of Dubai Media Office had earlier announced that President al-Sharaa would participate as the summit’s keynote speaker. The event serves as a platform for dialogue on key issues and developments across the Arab region.

The SANA news agency said the fire started when inmates in the Kobani prison rioted over tensions that erupted in the town the previous day between Kurds and Arabs. The prison is still run by Kurdish fighters even though Syrian government forces entered the town along the border with Turkey recently.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the riots started over plans by authorities to transfer some inmates to a prison in the northern city of Aleppo.

Kobani, which had been under siege by ISIS a decade ago, became a springboard for a US-backed Kurdish offensive that ended with extremists losing the last sliver of land they once held in 2019.

On Friday, riots broke out in Kobani after Kurds blamed Arabs for killing a Kurdish man. Tensions between the Kurdish minority and the central government remain high despite recent moves to bring northeast Syria under the control of the new government in Damascus.

In late August, the commander of the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces announced the official dissolution of the group, which once controlled a de facto autonomous zone in Syria’s northeast.

Damascus Countryside, Sept. 12 (SANA) Syria’s Drug Enforcement Department in Damascus Countryside foiled an attempt to smuggle large quantities of narcotics in a security operation in al-Nabk, seizing Captagon pills, weapons and explosives.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 206,000 Captagon pills, along with weapons and explosives, and the arrest of two suspects authorities said.

The suspects and seized items were referred to the competent judicial authorities to complete legal procedures.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to combat drug trafficking networks and prevent the smuggling of narcotics, including Captagon, across the country.

Aleppo, Sept. 11 (SANA) Development work at the existing Aleppo International Airport will begin in early 2027, with the project expected to raise annual passenger capacity to more than 2 million as Syria moves ahead with a broader Saudi-backed plan to modernize the airport and build a new international facility.

The Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said Friday that the upgrade would improve the existing airport’s operational efficiency, technical capabilities and passenger services while preparations continue for the new Aleppo International Airport.

Field surveys and preliminary technical studies are already underway to determine the requirements for the upgrade in line with international standards, the authority said.

The announcement follows meetings in Jeddah from Sept. 7 to 10 between a Syrian civil aviation delegation headed by authority chief Omar Hosari and representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Elaf Investment Fund, led by Bin Dawood Investment Group. Syria’s acting chargé d’affaires in Saudi Arabia, Mohsen Mahbash, joined the talks on Sept. 9 and 10.

The two sides agreed on a timetable, priorities and implementation steps for work to begin in early 2027. Discussions also covered expanding Aleppo’s role in passenger and cargo traffic and supporting industrial and commercial activity in northern Syria.

The agreement between the Syrian aviation authority and Elaf Investment Fund covers the development and operation of the existing airport as well as construction of a new international facility. Earlier project information indicates the new airport will be developed in stages, with initial capacity of about 6 million passengers annually, eventually rising to 12 million.

The agreement also includes financing for an integrated navigation radar system covering Syrian airspace, according to information released when the Saudi-Syrian investment agreements were signed in February.

Damascus, Sept. 11 (SANA) Preliminary investigations into nine pilots recently arrested in Latakia Province, western Syria, have shown that they logged more than 3,200 flight hours and sorties since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, including airstrikes targeting several areas, a source at the Ministry of Interior told SANA on Friday.

The source said the pilots operated various types of military aircraft, notably Mi-24 attack helicopters and Su-22, MiG-29 and MiG-21 fighter jets. They carried out airstrikes targeting several areas, particularly Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus Countryside, Aleppo city and countryside, Deir Ezzor and its countryside, and the countryside of Hama.

The pilots’ assigned duties included combat sorties and missions, strikes on positions held by rebels and population centers, and attacks on vital facilities and sites, as well as close air support, reconnaissance and target identification, the source explained.

Their responsibilities also included preparing helicopters and fighter jets with various types of explosive munitions and conducting the technical inspections and operational preparations required before takeoff. They were also tasked with identifying locations and coordinates, preparing target data, providing it to pilots and guiding them during missions.

The source added that the pilots also participated in transporting officers of the ousted regime to combat areas and positions.

Earlier on Thursday, Internal Security Forces in Latakia, in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Branch, arrested nine pilots involved in war crimes against the Syrian people through bombardment and attacks that resulted in large numbers of deaths and injuries and caused extensive damage to cities and towns, as well as the displacement of residents and destruction of homes, facilities and civilian infrastructure.

Sobhi Assaf, director of the media office at the Idlib Health Directorate, told SANA that the injuries ranged from minor to moderate, warning that the casualty toll could rise.

Emergency and ambulance referral teams, alongside Civil Defense crews, remain at the scene to prevent further explosions and ensure the safety of residents, Assaf said.

Osama al-Mousa, operations’ commander for the Dana area at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, said Civil Defense teams were continuing to extinguish fires and secure unexploded ordnance at the site.

The teams are also continuing operations to recover bodies and evacuate the injured from the blast site, al-Mousa added.

Damascus, Sep.9 (SANA) The Syrian Arab Republic strongly condemned Wednesday the illegal entry of Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into Syrian territory and his tour of Mount Hermon, describing the move as a provocative act and a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syria stressed that the continued Israeli incursions and attacks inside Syrian territory constitute a dangerous escalation that threatens security and stability in the region.

The Syrian Arab Republic holds the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the consequences of these violations and calls on the United Nations, international organizations and relevant states to assume their responsibilities in halting these attacks and ensuring a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Damascus, Sep. 9 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa received Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi at the People’s Palace in Damascus, with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani attending.

The meeting focused on bilateral relations between Syria and Jordan and ways to strengthen them, as well as expanding areas of cooperation and joint coordination.

The two sides exchanged views on regional developments and a number of issues of mutual interest.

Damascus, Sept. 9 (SANA) Children across Syria continue to face the dangers posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, as awareness, survey and clearance efforts seek to protect them and ensure their safe return to areas contaminated by remnants left behind by the ousted regime.

324,000 explosive remnants: Where does the danger lie?

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that around 324,000 landmines and explosive remnants of war remain in Syria, while approximately 5 million children live in contaminated areas.

According to a UNICEF report covering the period from December 8, 2024, to February 28, 2026, 1,051 incidents involving explosive ordnance were recorded, resulting in 1,891 casualties, including 698 people killed and 1,193 injured.

Children accounted for 205 of those killed and 480 of those injured.

In a subsequent UNICEF update included in its 2026 appeal, the number of children reported killed since December 2024 had risen to 252, while the number injured reached 601.

Explosive remnants are not confined to former battlefields. They may be found in fields, along roads, inside homes and damaged buildings, as well as near schools and playgrounds, exposing children to danger while playing, going to school or exploring abandoned areas.

A suspicious object in a child’s path: What should they do?

The risks increase as families return to their areas of origin, where children may encounter objects whose nature or danger they do not recognize.

Awareness programs therefore emphasize a clear rule: Do not approach, touch or move a suspicious object. Move away, warn others and report it to the relevant authorities.

Mayada Khashfeh, assistant principal of Al-Hikma First School in the Darayya area, told SANA that students’ awareness of the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war and how to respond to them had improved noticeably as a result of awareness campaigns carried out by relevant authorities and organizations.

She said students had become particularly more aware of the need not to approach or touch suspicious objects and to report them.

Khashfeh said incidents involving abandoned objects in damaged buildings had contributed to greater awareness among children and parents. She stressed the importance of teachers and families in reinforcing prevention messages and incorporating them continuously into lessons and educational activities.

She also called for stronger awareness programs at schools near affected areas, particularly recently reopened schools, while ensuring that their surroundings are safe and making use of programs provided by specialized organizations and relevant authorities.

Khashfeh said lectures supported by stories, visual materials and videos were among the most effective ways of conveying information to children. Engagement increases, she added, when sessions include practical and training components that safely familiarize children with the appearance of some explosive remnants and teach them how to respond if they encounter a suspicious object.

She said Al-Hikma First School had received no reports of suspicious objects inside the school or in its surroundings. Similar cases, however, had been reported at other schools, including the discovery of objects resembling toys or other familiar items containing explosive remnants of war, underscoring the need for continued awareness efforts.

From school to home: How can families protect their children?

Maher Khdeir, a parent living in Zamalka, said explosive remnants of war continued to pose a danger, particularly to children.

His family had not seen suspicious objects near their home but had heard reports of them in other areas, prompting greater caution when children play or move through destroyed and uninhabited areas.

Khdeir said his family teaches its children not to touch or move unknown objects, to move away from them and immediately notify their parents, teachers or the relevant authorities.

He stressed the importance of families and schools working together to protect children and reinforce safety messages.

707,199 children received safety messages

Awareness efforts are not limited to responding to incidents but form an essential part of continuous prevention work.

During 2025, 707,199 children in Syria benefited from explosive ordnance risk education programs as part of broader protection programs that reached 918,484 children.

The programs use interactive methods, visual materials and child-appropriate activities to help children recognize dangerous objects, keep a safe distance from them and report them safely.

Such awareness provides children with an immediate means of protection until explosive remnants can be cleared from contaminated areas.

981 clearance operations, 369 surveys and 631 awareness sessions

The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management addresses explosive remnants of war through an integrated approach encompassing surveys, responses to reports, clearance, awareness activities and the safe disposal of explosive remnants.

During the first half of 2026, explosive-remnants clearance and mine-action teams carried out 981 operations to remove unexploded ordnance, along with 369 non-technical surveys and 631 awareness sessions aimed at strengthening public understanding of the risks and ways to prevent accidents.

Survey operations and responses to reports help identify areas where explosive remnants may be present and allow them to be addressed before civilians enter those areas.

Awareness efforts, meanwhile, provide immediate protection for residents, particularly children, until contaminated areas can be fully cleared.

Three years toward a national mine-action strategy

As part of efforts to build a long-term national response, the National Mine Action Center at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management is developing an integrated three-year national strategy to clear Syrian territory of mines and unexploded ordnance, while building sustainable national capacity and developing operational systems and regulatory standards.

Raed Hassoun, head of the Clearance Department at the center, said the strategy is based on establishing a national information system, building capacity, conducting surveys and clearance operations, and developing regulatory standards.

He explained that the center is responsible for oversight, coordination and quality assurance and does not have its own field clearance teams.

Hassoun said German drones were being tested for technical surveys and modern mine-clearing machines were being trialed.

He identified the vast extent of contamination, along with shortages of personnel, equipment and financial support, as among the main challenges facing mine-action efforts.

Geneva: From planning to partnership in mine action

A conference on mine action in Syria was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 22 to 24, 2026, chaired by Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh.

The conference discussed the extent of contamination by mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, efforts to address the threat, key challenges, response priorities and ways to strengthen international cooperation.

Al-Saleh said mine clearance is a national priority linked to protecting civilians, creating conditions for the return of displaced people and supporting reconstruction.

Conference sessions addressed ways to develop national capacities and expand survey, clearance and awareness operations.

International partnerships in the sector are also continuing. They include a project launched by the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management and the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with Japanese funding.

The project aims to clear mines and unexploded ordnance and rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure in affected areas.

More than 110,000 mines and war remnants cleared

Statistics from the Ministry of Defense showed that military engineering regiments of the Syrian Arab Army had dismantled or destroyed more than 110,000 mines and explosive remnants of war across the country since the beginning of 2026, as part of efforts to clear contaminated areas and make them safe.

The importance of these operations extends beyond security. Clearing contaminated land allows residents to return, farming to resume and facilities and services to restart.

For children, it means regaining their ability to reach school, play and move around in a safer environment.

While clearing explosive remnants scattered across Syria requires time, specialized teams, technology and international support, awareness remains the fastest protective measure to reach children.

Surveys identify the danger, clearance removes it and modern technologies can accelerate the work, but awareness can prevent an accident before it happens: “Do not touch. Do not approach. Move away. Warn others and report it to the relevant authorities.”

Protecting children therefore begins at school, at home and within the community, and continues until the land is fully safe.

Tartous, Sept. 07 (SANA) The Internal Security Forces in Tartous province, in cooperation with the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, arrested former Major General Mohammad Ali Dirgham, a prominent military officer under the deposed regime, following a tracking operation.

In a statement on Monday, the Internal Security Forces said that Dirgham held several senior posts, including platoon commander in the Defense Companies during the 1982 Hama events, field commander of the 4th Division between 2009 and 2013, deputy commander of the 5th Division, and commander of the 2nd Corps until late 2018.

Initial investigations and documentation records indicated his involvement in issuing direct orders to open fire on unarmed protesters in Damascus Countryside, as well as supervising raids that led to widespread arbitrary arrests. The Internal Security Forces said these actions had previously led to his inclusion on international sanctions lists.

The Security Forces said investigations are ongoing to complete the documentation of the reported incidents before referring him to the competent judiciary for legal action.

Days earlier, the Internal Security Directorate in Latakia, in cooperation with the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, arrested former Major General Jalal Kamel Saqr, commander of the 18th Infantry Brigade under the deposed regime, over involvement in war crimes and arbitrary detentions.

The operation comes as part of the Ministry of Interior’s ongoing efforts to pursue individuals accused of involvement in crimes and violations against Syrians and refer them to the competent judiciary for legal action.

Sweida, Sept. 7 (SANA) The Drug Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Interior foiled an attempt by outlaw groups to smuggle large quantities of narcotics toward Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the countryside of Sweida province using guided balloons.

The security operation resulted in the seizure of 44 kilograms of hashish, 218,000 Captagon pills, and global positioning system (GPS) devices.

On Aug. 12. The Drug Enforcement Department foiled an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of narcotics into Jordan, using balloons in the eastern countryside of Sweida.

Damascus, Sept. 6 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Sunday accepted the credentials of seven newly- appointed ambassadors to the Syrian Arab Republic during official ceremonies held at the People’s Palace in Damascus, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.

President al-Sharaa received the credentials of Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ghazi al-Enezi, Vatican Ambassador (Apostolic Nuncio) Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona, and Ambassador of the European Union Michael Ohnmacht.

The President also received the credentials of Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil Eduardo Barbosa, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden Jessica Svärdström, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark Frej Jackson.

Jabara said in a statement carried by the Ministry of Interior’s Telegram channel that the cancellation followed sustained efforts by the Interpol branch in Damascus and the International Cooperation Department, in coordination and continued communication with Interpol. The efforts established that the alert was invalid and based on inaccurate information.

He explained that the ousted regime had requested the alert in November 2024, following the liberation of Aleppo, claiming that the passports had been stolen from an immigration and passports center in the city.

The passports, however, had been duly issued and delivered to their rightful holders, Jabara said.

The alert led to the detention and confiscation of some holders’ passports in several countries, disrupting their travel and restricting their movement.

Earlier in May, A delegation from the Ministry of Interior participated in the First Global Conference on Police Communication organized by Interpol, held in the French city of Lyon.

Syria has begun destroying chemical weapon materials identified by an international watchdog, the country’s UN envoy said Thursday, signaling a major step forward since the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Al-Assad.

“This is the very first destruction process since we have been liberated from the previous regime,” Ibrahim Olabi told the Security Council. “It’s also the first of its kind to destroy chemical materials on Syrian territory for over a decade.”

In 2021, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) took the unprecedented step of stripping Syria of its voting rights after finding its air force had used nerve agent sarin and chlorine gas on its own people.

But since al-Assad’s overthrow, the new authorities in Damascus have vowed to cooperate with the OPCW to destroy the chemical weapons the former president was repeatedly accused of using during Syria’s 13-year civil war.

“We aim at protecting the Syrian people so that such weapons will not fall into the wrong hands,” Olabi said Thursday.

He added that his country was “also protecting the world and the region through such work. Every site that is secured, every ammunition that is identified, does not merely remove a danger to Syria, but the entire world.”

Izumi Nakamitsu, head of the UN disarmament office, said an OPCW team last month “verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs” by Syrian authorities.

“This significant development means that, for the first time since 2014, the OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical munitions from the Syrian Arab Republic,” she said.

Suspected chemical attack

In 2013, Syria agreed to join the OPCW and disclose and hand over its toxic stockpile under Russian and US pressure, and to avert the threat of air strikes by Washington and its allies.

This came after a suspected chemical attack on the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus that killed more than 1,000 people, according to US intelligence, and was attributed to the Syrian government, which denied involvement and blamed rebels.

But the al-Assad regime failed to declare all of its program and attempted to mislead inspectors.

At the Security Council, the United States urged the new Syrian authorities to continue cooperating with the OPCW.

“Our work to eliminate the al-Assad regime’s chemical weapons program and to promote accountability is not just essential for international peace and security, it is also a way to honor the Syrian men, women, and children whose lives were taken,” said US envoy Tammy Bruce.

“Let their memory stir us onward as we work toward a Syria and a world finally free of chemical weapons.”

China and Russia also both commended the Syria’s progress in destroying chemical weapon materials.