Syria’s Intelligence Directorate foiled an attack by the Islamic State group on the Sayeda Zeinab shrine in a Damascus suburb, a site of mass pilgrimage for Shi’ites.
According to State news agency Sana, members of the cell were arrested before they could detonate an explosion inside the shrine.
Fears About IS Resurgence
The foiled attack by Syria’s Intelligence Directorate is bound to stoke fears that Islamic State is hoping to stage a comeback in Syria following the fall last month of President Bashar al-Assad.
Some Syrians and foreign powers are worried that the country’s new leaders, who are from the Sunni Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that forced Assad out on December. 8, may impose strict Islamic governance.
Syria has numerous minority groups such as Druze, Kurds, Christians and Shi’ites.
Protection Of Religious Minorities
But the announcement by Syria’s de facto government that it thwarted an attack targeting Shi’ite Muslims comes amid reassurances it will protect religious minorities.
“The General Intelligence Directorate is utilizing all its resources to confront all attempts to target the Syrian people in all their diversity,” an intelligence official told Sana.
Previous Attacks In And Around The Shrine
Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim militant group, has claimed
previous attacks in and around the shrine, including last year
besides a bombing in 2017 that killed at least 40 people.
The granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, Sayeda Zeinab is
venerated by Shi’ite Muslims.
The mosque and shrine 10 kilometers south of Damascus attracts Shi’ite pilgrims from around the region.
Protection Of The Shrine
Defence of the shrine had been a rallying call during Syria’s 13-year civil war that drew Shi’ite militiamen from around the region to back former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Impact Of Assad’s Ouster
But Assad’s ouster last month significantly diminished the position of Shi’ite forces in Syria, including Iran and the Tehran-allied Lebanese group Hezbollah.
