Syria’s internal security forces have thwarted an attempt to smuggle advanced weaponry into Lebanon and launched a major crackdown in Latakia province targeting armed groups linked to recent violence.

The Syrian news agency SANA reported that internal security forces in Qusayr, Homs governorate, intercepted a truck loaded with guided anti-tank missiles and 30mm ammunition destined for Lebanon. The driver was arrested and referred to the judiciary for legal action.

The interception highlights the persistent challenge of arms trafficking across the porous 375-kilometer Syria-Lebanon border, much of which lacks clear demarcation and is used by armed groups and smugglers.

Coordinated Security Operations in Latakia

Concurrently, security forces in Latakia launched operations to pursue suspects involved in an armed attack on a telecommunications center in Dalia village, near Jableh on the Mediterranean coast. Several arrests were made, although authorities have not disclosed identities or affiliations of the detainees.

These actions come just days before Eid al-Adha, a time when security risks typically rise due to increased civilian travel and gatherings.

Border Security in Focus After Assad’s Fall

The crackdown follows a new phase in Syria-Lebanon relations after the December 2024 fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In March, Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra and his Lebanese counterpart Michel Moussa signed a border security agreement emphasizing intelligence coordination and joint operations.

Presidents Ahmad al-Sharaa and Joseph Aoun reinforced these efforts with bilateral commitments to counter smuggling and cross-border armed threats.