When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Syria on July 6 and 7, a terrorist cell swung into action and carried out bombings in Damascus.
Syria has been haunted by these threats over the past months. There are terrorist cells operating in the country. ISIS is behind some of the threats. Now, Syria’s state media says that “Syrian security forces, in coordination with the General Intelligence Service, dismantled several cells affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group in southern Syria and arrested a senior leader along with a number of other members, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.”
The report adds that “according to the ministry, those arrested include Firas al-Dagher, whom it identified as a senior ISIS leader, and several figures responsible for assassinations and financing activities linked to the group.”
This is an important development.
Syria has faced ISIS threats for years, ever since the group was able to increase its strength amid the Syrian civil war in 2013-2014. ISIS used Syria as a launchpad for an invasion of Iraq in 2014. It also established a capital in Raqqa near the Euphrates River. Raqqa was liberated in 2017.
ISIS was largely defeated by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in 2019. It was a long, slow process.
Ever since 2019, the ISIS cells have retreated to the desert. However, the networks remain, and ISIS has sought to regrow some of them. Fears grew when ISIS families also fled Al-Hol and other camps in 2025. However, the group’s current full strength is unclear. It appears relatively small, though still deadly.
Suspect held 'several senior' ISIS positions
Syria’s state media SANA noted on July 9 that the Interior Ministry said in a statement that investigations showed that Dagher “held several senior positions within ISIS, including responsibility for the group’s so-called Jidur Sector and Western Region [in Daraa province], before being appointed the organization’s “governor” for Lebanon and Palestine. It said he also served as a personal aide to the group’s self-declared caliph.”
The report added that “authorities said the dismantled cells were involved in assassinations and armed robberies targeting gold merchants in Daraa province to finance the group’s operations.” The ministry said that the detainees confessed that they had been involved in assassinations of two Interior Ministry personnel. “The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to track down terrorist groups and dismantle their networks, according to the ministry.”
The ministry has confirmed the investigations showing that the terrorist cell was behind the car bombings in Damascus in May. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Anas Khattab met on Saturday with provincial internal security commanders, SANA said. This was aimed at learning lessons and increasing stability.
Recent Syrian successes
Syria has seen many successes recently. For instance, SANA added, “The Arab Parliament and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to remove Syria from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, describing it as a significant step toward supporting the country’s recovery, stability, and reintegration into the international community.”
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa also met Trump last week on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. He also hosted the French president.
Syria sent a team to Venezuela to assist after the earthquake there. The team returned on July 11.