Ankara: Syria's Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday that it successfully thwarted a planned attack by loyalists of the former Bashar al-Assad regime targeting a church in the coastal province of Tartus.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Internal Security Forces Chief in Tartus, Abdelal Mohammad Abdelal, described the prevention of the attack as a result of a "high-level security operation" following extensive surveillance and intelligence efforts. The operation was initiated based on precise intelligence that identified an outlaw group, affiliated with remnants of the deposed regime, surveilling Mar Elias Maronite Church in the village of Khreibet, located in the Safita countryside.

The group intended to execute a terrorist attack by planting explosives within the church premises. Abdelal reported that two individuals were apprehended while en route to executing the attack. Security personnel successfully recovered a primed explosive device, written threats directed at local residents, and a black flag from the location.

This development follows the recent deadly June suicide bombing claimed by Daesh/ISIS at another Mar Elias Church in Damascus, which resulted in 25 fatalities and 63 injuries. Authorities had arrested members of the Daesh/ISIS cell responsible for the Damascus attack.

Bashar al-Assad, who led Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, marking the end of the Baath Party regime that had been in power since 1963. Since Assad's departure, Syrian security agencies and judicial authorities have intensified their efforts to apprehend suspects involved in terrorism, war crimes, and other violations. A new transitional administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, was established in January.