Weapons Cache Discovered Near Iraqi Border as Syrian Security Forces Step Up Operations
By Kardo Roj
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Syrian security forces on Wednesday announced the discovery of a weapons cache in the border region near the town of al-Hari, east of Deir ez-Zor and adjacent to the Iraqi frontier.
According to reports published by Syrian state media, the operation was conducted by the General Security Directorate in coordination with the Counter-Narcotics Division. Mustafa al-Ali, head of the al-Bukamal security office, confirmed that dozens of anti-tank missiles had been confiscated during the raid. Several individuals suspected of involvement in smuggling operations were also apprehended.
Al-Ali stated that the munitions were believed to have been prepared for illegal transfer into Iraq. The precise origin and intended recipients of the seized weaponry remain unclear. The area around al-Bukamal has long been a hotspot for cross-border smuggling, arms trafficking, and armed group activity, due to its strategic location along the porous Syria-Iraq border.
In a parallel operation, the local counter-narcotics unit in Deir ez-Zor conducted a targeted raid that led to the seizure of narcotics, including quantities of hashish, from one of the detained individuals. The individual is reportedly among those already under investigation in connection with the weapons cache.
Syrian government media cited Brigadier General Khaled Eid, director of the national drug control agency, as announcing the launch of a broader security campaign in eastern Syria. The campaign, coordinated with the General Security Directorate, aims to pursue individuals involved in the manufacture, trade, and distribution of narcotics across the region.
The campaign comes amid growing concerns over regional instability linked to illicit cross-border activities, especially in areas where formal governance remains limited or contested. The region around Deir ez-Zor is divided between areas controlled by the Syrian government and territories administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which is secured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
While the recent operation took place in government-held territory, the continued prevalence of weapons trafficking and drug smuggling in eastern Syria has raised alarm across administrative lines. Security forces across the region, including those aligned with the AANES, have conducted parallel efforts aimed at curbing these activities to safeguard civilians and prevent renewed escalation.
No casualties were reported during the raids, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed the total number of suspects detained or provided further information about potential affiliations.
The current operation is part of a wider series of coordinated efforts by Syrian security services to reassert control and limit the influence of armed networks operating in the eastern provinces.