• Syrian intelligence thwarts an Islamic State plan targeting a Shiite shrine.
• The operation led to the arrest of the IS cell members involved in the plot.
• Sayyida Zeinab has been a historical target for radical Sunni extremism.
• This development comes amid efforts to reassure religious minorities in Syria.
• Lebanon's Prime Minister met with Syrian leaders to discuss border security.

In a significant security development, Syria's [intelligence officials](https://apnews.com/article/syria-islamic-state-sayyida-zeinab-shiite-shrine-attack-b4b98ffc8890b30703db16ad770c2fb4) announced they successfully thwarted a plot by the Islamic State (IS) to detonate explosives at the prominent Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, located in a suburb of Damascus. The state-run news agency SANA reported that the General Intelligence Service apprehended members of the IS cell that was planning this violent act. An official from the intelligence service stated that they are committed to “putting all its capabilities to stand in the face of all attempts to target the Syrian people in all their spectrums.”

Sayyida Zeinab has historically been a target for IS attacks given its significance to Shiite Muslims; the group views Shiites as infidels under its extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam. A troubling incident occurred in 2023, when a bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries just ahead of the Shiite holy day of Ashoura. The news of this foiled attack serves not only as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by terrorist organizations but also reflects a broader strategy by the new Syrian leadership to reassure its minority religious populations, many of whom are perceived to have been supporters of the ousted regime of Bashar Assad.

Interestingly, the events surrounding this thwarted attack coincide with the visit of Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, to Damascus, where he met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has emerged as the de facto ruling power in the region after a rapid offensive that unseated Assad. Mikati indicated that both governments would form a committee to address longstanding border issues, especially concerning illegal crossings and smuggling activities between the two countries, particularly around the contentious area of Chebaa Farms, which remains under Israeli control but is claimed by both Lebanon and Syria.

The discussions reflect an effort to establish better relations and promote stability in a region marked by prolonged conflict and division. Mikati and al-Sharaa acknowledged the complexities involved in negotiating border demarcations but expressed hopes for enhanced future cooperation.

For further details, please visit the article by [VOA News](https://www.voanews.com/a/syria-thwarts-planned-islamic-state-attack-on-shiite-shrine/7933294.html).