Syria claims arrest of group behind Mezzeh airport attack, finds Hezbollah weapons

(Patria) - Syria announced on Sunday that it had apprehended the group responsible for recent rocket attacks on the Mezzeh military airport in Damascus, and investigators found weapons belonging to Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, Reuters reported.

The Ministry of Interior announced that security units arrested all members of the group, which they say carried out several attacks on the airport in recent months, following surveillance of suspicious rocket launch sites in several parts of the capital.

The weapons used in the attacks originate from Lebanese Hezbollah, an ally of former President Bashar al-Assad, which once had a significant military presence throughout Syria, the ministry stated.

Hezbollah denied this and said it has no activities or connections with any group within Syria.

Authorities announced that they also seized several drones that the group was preparing to use in further operations.

The ministry only stated that the detainees have connections with unidentified "foreign entities", without mentioning Hezbollah or Iran.

Reuters reported in November that Washington plans to establish a military presence at an air base in Damascus to help facilitate a security pact that Washington is mediating between Syria and Israel. The government in Damascus denied the report.

Security sources say that Hezbollah left stockpiles of weapons, including drones, in parts of Syria after withdrawing its forces following the fall of Assad's rule.