LONDON: Syrian security forces discovered a cache of SAM-7 anti-aircraft missiles on Monday in Al-Bukamal, a city near the border with Iraq.
The Interior Ministry said the weapons, seized by the Internal Security Directorate during a raid on a house, would have been smuggled out of the country. Investigations are continuing to identify and arrest those responsible for the smuggling attempt, officials said.
The ministry said it remains committed to efforts to combat smuggling and other illegal activities as part of its efforts to protect the security and stability of the nation, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
The latest seizure comes just days after authorities intercepted what was described as a significant arms-smuggling shipment on Dec. 17 in the Damascus countryside. The weapons seized included rocket-propelled grenades destined for Lebanon.
And on Dec. 20, a joint operation by security forces from the Damascus countryside and Daraa resulted in the arrest of five people accused of smuggling weapons to illegal groups in Syria, including the terrorist organization Daesh.
