New Syrian Government Intelligence: ISIS Attack on 'Zainab Shrine' Foiled

The intelligence agency of the new Syrian government has stated that it has thwarted a plan by the Islamic State group, known as ISIS, to detonate explosives at the shrine of Zainab, the daughter of the first Imam of Shia Muslims, located in the suburbs of Damascus. The state news agency SANA reported on Saturday, January 22, citing an anonymous official from the Syrian intelligence agency, that members of ISIS who intended to carry out this attack have been arrested. This security official claimed that the new Syrian government 'uses all its resources to counter any attempts to target all segments of the Syrian people.' ISIS, which has an extremist interpretation of Sunni Islam, considers Shia Muslims to be infidels and has previously attacked their shrines in Syria. In one of the latest incidents, a motorcycle carrying explosives detonated on the day of 'Tasu'a' last year in the Zainab area near the shrine, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Damascus on Saturday, January 22, and met with Ahmad al-Shara, known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the leader of the new Syrian government. After this meeting, Mr. Mikati told reporters that the two countries would form a committee to determine their common borders. The Lebanese Prime Minister added, 'Some border issues require complete control, especially in unofficial points to prevent any smuggling operations between Lebanon and Syria.' One of the complex border issues is the Shebaa Farms area, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967 as part of the Golan Heights and currently controls. International bodies consider this area to be occupied. Beirut and Damascus claim that the Shebaa Farms is part of Lebanese territory, but the United Nations views this area as part of Syria and believes its fate should be determined by Damascus and Israel. Ahmad al-Shara, in response to a question about the resolution of this area, said it is too early to discuss all the details in this regard. Mr. Shara further stated, 'In fact, Syria is facing many problems, and not all issues can be resolved at once.' Ahmad al-Shara also expressed hope that problems at official border crossings would soon be resolved. Lebanese citizens previously entered Syria without a visa, using only their passport or ID, but on January 14, news agencies reported, citing two Lebanese security officials, that the Syrian border has been closed to citizens of this country. Ahmad al-Shara said in this regard, 'We want social relations between us to increase, not decrease. Therefore, any border obstacle between us should be removed in the future, but this is a matter that customs officials need to decide on.'