The Internal Security Command in Latakia governorate, western Syria, announced that two men were killed and another suspect was arrested in security operations targeting individuals allegedly involved in bombings and attacks against Internal Security Forces and Syrian army positions in the coastal region.
Latakia Internal Security Commander Brig. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Ahmad said on Tuesday, July 28, that an operation conducted in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Department followed a series of surveillance and tracking efforts.
The operation targeted First Sergeant Bilal Adnan Dawoud, known as Abu Yaqoub, whom authorities accused of working for the Saraya al-Jawad militia and leading one of the fronts that attacked the 107th Brigade in the village of Zama during the coastal events of March 6, 2025.
Al-Ahmad said security forces set an ambush for Dawoud as he traveled through the Jableh countryside near the village of Falsaqo.
Dawoud was accompanied by Mohsen Ahmed Mansour, whom al-Ahmad described as one of the leaders of armed groups affiliated with the Saraya al-Kumait militia.
According to the official account, the two men resisted the security force by throwing offensive grenades and opening fire, despite being ordered to surrender.
Security personnel then engaged the two men, resulting in what al-Ahmad described as their “neutralization.”
The Internal Security commander said security operations continued afterward, leading to the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in previous bombings.
He added that investigations were continuing to identify parties linked to the suspect and clarify the circumstances surrounding the cases attributed to him.
Al-Ahmad said the Internal Security Command would continue pursuing anyone proven to have participated in activities threatening residents’ security and the region’s stability.
He added that legal action would be taken against those involved in accordance with established procedures.
Saraya al-Jawad Leader Killed
Latakia Internal Security Commander Brig. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Ahmad previously confirmed that Saraya al-Jawad leader Bashar Abdullah Abu Ruqayya and two commanders from the group were killed in a security operation on the Syrian coast.
The Interior Ministry quoted al-Ahmad on its Facebook page on February 24 as saying that a dual operation was carried out in the Beit Alouni and Basniya areas of the Jableh countryside after several days of close surveillance.
Al-Ahmad said the operation targeted one of Saraya al-Jawad’s most important strongholds.
The operation resulted in the killing of the group’s leader, Bashar Abdullah Abu Ruqayya, and two of its commanders, while six other members were arrested, according to the Interior Ministry’s account.
Security forces also detonated a weapons and explosive devices depot belonging to the group.
Al-Ahmad said one member of the Special Tasks Forces was killed during the operation, while another sustained minor injuries.
He added that the operation was part of a series of security campaigns conducted by the Internal Security Command against cells it described as threats to security and stability.
Al-Ahmad said security forces would continue efforts to remove armed groups from the area, protect residents and preserve stability throughout Latakia governorate.
The Syrian Interior Ministry had previously announced what it described as a special security operation targeting members of a Saraya al-Jawad cell in the Jableh countryside on December 24, 2025.
The ministry said the cell was affiliated with Suhail al-Hassan, an officer in the former Syrian government’s army.
At the time, the Latakia Internal Security commander said, according to a statement published by the Interior Ministry on Facebook, that the cell was allegedly involved in assassinations, summary killings and explosive device attacks.
He also accused the cell of carrying out attacks against Internal Security Forces and Syrian army positions.
Leader of “Saraya al-Jawad” killed in clashes with Internal Security