Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced that ongoing investigations have conclusively linked a recently captured ISIS terrorist cell to the twin bombings that struck central Damascus early last week. ISIS is responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and widespread human rights violations, and authorities say the group’s operatives intended to destabilize the capital during a sensitive phase of the country’s political transition.
According to official statements, investigators matched surveillance footage with confessions obtained from the detainees, confirming their direct involvement in the July 7 attack. The ministry identified the primary suspects as Diya Shaker al-Qasim, Abdullah Younis al-Jubouri, and Muhammad Asaad Muhammad. Officials said the men were formally affiliated with ISIS and had developed broader plans aimed at spreading panic and undermining public security.
The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence operation carried out by the Internal Security Forces and the General Intelligence Directorate. Authorities dismantled the network through synchronized raids across multiple districts in Damascus and its surrounding areas, including al-Qutayfah, Sayyida Zeinab, Dahiyat Qudsaya, and Ish al-Warwar.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab confirmed on the social media platform X that the entire cell responsible for the bombings is now in custody. He said full details regarding the suspects’ identities, roles, and external connections will be released once judicial files are finalized. Khattab stressed that the state will impose the maximum penalties on anyone proven to have planned, supported, or carried out the attack.
The July 7 bombings targeted a densely populated civilian and administrative area in central Damascus, detonating within minutes of each other near the Ministry of Tourism. The blasts occurred close to the Four Seasons Hotel, where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during an official visit.
The explosions—one from a device planted inside a parked vehicle and another concealed in a waste container—killed one person and injured at least 36 others. Most of the casualties were members of the Internal Security Forces, including four civil police officers.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing the use of improvised explosive devices in crowded civilian areas as an unjustifiable assault on the right to life and physical safety. In its statement, the organization warned that the bombings were intended to disrupt public stability, undermine Syria’s fragile political transition, and shake confidence among both citizens and international partners in the state’s ability to maintain security.
While urging authorities to ensure a transparent, independent, and evidence-based judicial process, the SNHR expressed solidarity with the victims and called for comprehensive prosecution of all networks involved, in accordance with the rule of law.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
