Syrian internal security forces arrested more than 50 individuals on Monday, July 7, in the eastern city of Al-Bukamal, many of whom were reportedly tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to a statement by Colonel Dhirar Al-Shamlan, head of internal security in Deir ez-Zor province, the operation targeted suspects involved in illegal weapons possession, drug trafficking, and activities threatening public safety. His remarks were published by the Syrian Ministry of Interior and quoted by Sky News Arabia and the Syrian state-affiliated outlet Al-Ikhbariyah.
Among those detained, some were identified as having links to “Fawj 47”, a local militia group supported by the IRGC. Al-Shamlan stressed that the campaign was coordinated with residents in the area and is part of an ongoing effort to secure the region. He urged citizens to continue reporting suspicious activity to local authorities operating around the clock.
The sweep, part of the second phase of a broader security campaign in Deir ez-Zor, followed intelligence about ongoing coordination between individuals in the city and IRGC-affiliated militias. Al-Ikhbariyah reported that security forces carried out raids in the districts of Al-Sukkariyah and Al-Hamdan, seizing weapons and ammunition. The campaign then expanded into the city center to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks.
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According to Al-Jarida, the arrests in Al-Bukamal reflect a broader pattern of mounting pressure on Iranian-backed networks across Syria. The Kuwaiti newspaper noted that Syrian security forces have expanded operations against individuals affiliated with the IRGC, including in areas previously considered strongholds of foreign-backed militias.
Al-Jarida also reported that this shift has triggered speculation about new regional dynamics and behind-the-scenes security understandings involving international actors, including possible mediation by the United States.
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The arrests in Al-Bukamal follow similar security operations in nearby Al-Mayadin and have reportedly been welcomed by segments of the local population, who have endured years of instability linked to militia activity.
These developments suggest a significant turn in Syria’s internal security posture toward Iranian-linked groups, as Damascus appears increasingly willing—or pressured—to curb the influence of militias that operated with near impunity during the Assad era.