# Syrian security arrests of militant leaders

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/syrian-security-arrests-of-militant-leaders
> Updated: 2026-10-06T18:10:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Syrian security authorities have conducted high-profile arrests of individuals linked to significant past violence and terrorist activities.

On October 4, the counter-terrorism unit of the Internal Security Forces announced the arrest of Jamal Trabelsi, a deputy to Ali Kayali of the ‘Syrian Resistance’ militia. Trabelsi is accused of involvement in atrocities committed alongside former regime forces, most notably the 2013 Baniyas and Al-Bayda massacres. His superior, Kayali, has also been implicated in a 2013 bombing in Reyhanlı, Turkey, that killed 52 people.

Following this, on October 6, security forces arrested Khaled Raed Birouni, also known as ‘Abu Hassan Doshka,’ in the Damascus countryside. The Syrian Interior Ministry identified Birouni as the ISIS general military commander for Homs province. He is accused of overseeing sectarian attacks, including the December 26, 2025, bombing of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, which resulted in eight deaths and 18 injuries.

## Claims

- Khaled Raed Birouni, also known as ‘Abu Hassan Doshka’, was arrested in Hajira, Rural Damascus. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Birouni served as the general military commander for ISIS in the Homs province. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Birouni is accused of planning and overseeing the December 26, 2025, bombing of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The operation was conducted by the General Intelligence Service and the Internal Security Command in Rural Damascus. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The mosque bombing killed 8 people and injured 18 others. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing, targeting members of the Alawite community. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-06: Syria arrests ISIS commander linked to Homs mosque bombing

Syrian authorities arrested ISIS military commander Khaled Raed Birouni, accused of orchestrating a deadly December 2025 mosque bombing in Homs that killed eight people.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syria-arrests-isis-military-leader-in-homs-province

### 2026-10-04: Syria arrests militia leader linked to Baniyas massacre

Syrian counter-terrorism forces have arrested Jamal Trabelsi, a militia leader accused of involvement in the 2013 Baniyas and Al-Bayda massacres.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syria-arrests-militia-leader-linked-to-baniyas-massacre

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Cite as: Syrian security arrests of militant leaders. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/syrian-security-arrests-of-militant-leaders