Syria arrests IS-linked cell behind Damascus bomb blasts

Syrian authorities announced on Thursday that they have captured a cell linked to the Islamic State group responsible for two bomb blasts that struck central Damascus during a historic visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. The attacks on Tuesday killed one person and wounded dozens, casting a shadow over the first trip by a European Union head of state since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, stated that the cell was now in custody following a series of simultaneous raids across four neighborhoods in Damascus and its surrounding countryside. He said the identities of the suspects, their roles, and their affiliations would be made public once investigations are complete. Ahmad al-Dalati, head of interior security for the Damascus region, said preliminary investigations indicated the cell was affiliated with IS. He explained that authorities tracked down one member of the cell responsible for the July 7 bombings, which led them to identify the rest of the group.

The twin explosions occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel, where President Macron had spent the night and met with civil society groups on Tuesday...