Syria Update: September 29, 2025
Syrian General Security Service Weapons Seizure: on September 27, the Syrian General Security Service (GSS) intercepted a meaningful weapons cache near the Syria-Lebanon border.The seizure occurred in al Qusayr, Homs Province, and included 200 grad rockets, mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenade warheads, and heavy machine guns.A Syrian source indicated this was the largest weapons cache seized by the GSS since December 2024. The location of the interdiction, in Homs province bordering the Bekaa Valley (a hezbollah stronghold), suggests the shipment was likely intended for hezbollah, who previously fired thousands of Grad rockets into northern Israel between October 2023 and November 2024. Al Qusayr is situated along a known smuggling route historically used by Hezbollah wiht the support of the Assad regime and Iranian-backed smugglers.
International Coalition Drone Strike: Syrian media reported on September 28 that a drone strike conducted by the International Coalition targeted a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighter in southern Idlib Province. The strike reportedly killed the fighter in his home in Tammanah. As of this writing, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not claimed responsibility. CENTCOM has previously conducted strikes against ISIS fighters in northern Syria, including a drone strike on june 10 and a likely CENTCOM drone strike on September 4. US forces also conducted ground raids resulting in the deaths of two ISIS leaders in northern Idlib Province on August 19 and southern Hama Province on September 19.
Joint Turkish-Syrian Raid Against ISIS Cell: On September 28, Turkish and Syrian interior ministries conducted a joint raid against a reported ISIS cell in Atmeh, Idlib Province. The operation followed the killing of a Turkish citizen in Turkey by the cell,who then fled into Syria. The Turkish Interior Ministry stated the cell comprised 14 ISIS members who stole the victim’s vehicle before crossing the border. During the raid, eight ISIS members were killed, and six were arrested and subsequently extradited to Turkey. This joint counter-ISIS operation represents increased military cooperation between Turkey and Syria, following a security agreement signed in August and the commencement of Turkish training for Syrian Ministry of Defense forces on September 9. Previously, US-led International Coalition forces and the Syrian GSS collaborated on a joint counter-ISIS raid in Atmeh on august 20, resulting in the death of a senior Iraqi ISIS leader.
