Syrian security forces thwarted an attempted assassination in the heart of Damascus, capturing a terror cell affiliated with Hezbollah just moments before it carried out an attack on the city’s Jewish community rabbi, Rabbi Michael Khouri.

The dramatic operation unfolded in central Damascus, where authorities uncovered an explosive device planted in a densely populated area. According to reports, the plot was aimed at destabilizing Syria’s already fragile security situation.

The operation reached a critical point when special forces identified a woman from the cell as she attempted to place an explosive device at the entrance of a religious figure’s residence in the Bab Touma neighborhood, near the Al-Mariamite Church. The arrest came after close surveillance of suspicious activity in the capital.

According to later reports from senior security sources, the primary target of the attack was Rabbi Michael Khouri, a leading figure in the city’s Jewish community. The explosive device, which was rigged for remote detonation using communication equipment, was successfully neutralized and dismantled by specialized engineering units shortly before it was set to explode. No injuries or property damage were reported.

During the operation, five members of the terror cell were taken into custody. Initial findings indicate that the suspects had undergone advanced military training outside Syria, including instruction in assembling and planting explosive devices. Syrian officials stated that the objective of the plot was to spread instability and undermine security during the country’s current “transitional phase.”

The Syrian Interior Ministry emphasized that security forces will continue proactive operations and maintain heightened surveillance to prevent further attempts by “sleeper cells” to target public figures and crowded civilian areas. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full scope of the plot and identify all those involved before bringing the suspects to trial.

{Matzav.com}