Syrian intelligence agency says it thwarted a planned Islamic State attack on a Shiite shrine

DAMASCUS (AP) — Intelligence officials in Syria's new de facto government thwarted a plan by the Islamic State group to set off a bomb at a Shiite shrine in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, state media reported Saturday.

State news agency SANA reported, citing an unnamed official in the General Intelligence Service, that members of the IS cell planning the attack were arrested. It quoted the official as saying that the intelligence service is “putting all its capabilities to stand in the face of all attempts to target the Syrian people in all their spectrums.”

Sayyida Zeinab has been the site of past attacks on Shiite pilgrims by IS — which takes an extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam and considers Shiites to be infidels.

In 2023, a motorcycle planted with explosives detonated in Sayyida Zeinab, killing at least six people and wounding dozens a day before the Shiite holy day of Ashoura,

The announcement that the attack had been thwarted appeared to be another attempt by the country's new leaders to reassure religious minorities, including those seen as having been supporters of the former government of Bashar Assad.

Assad, a member of the Alawite minority, was allied with Iran and with the Shiite Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as well as Iranian-backed Iraqi militias.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the former insurgent group that led the lightning offensive that toppled Assad last month and is now the de facto ruling party in the country, is a Sunni Islamist group that formerly had ties with al-Qaida.

The group later split from al-Qaida, and HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has preached religious coexistence since assuming power in Damascus.

Visitors continued to enter the shrine Saturday under strict security measures.

“The site is open, and visitors are making their visits safely and with peace of mind," said Moataz Sikkawi, security supervisor at the site. "The security measures regarding this cell have been addressed and dealt with.”

Nisreen Al Hassan, a visitor, said she felt reassured.

“ It is a very, very good effort, and we thank the security forces who worked to ensure safety and security for this country and its citizens," she said.

Also Saturday, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Damascus to meet with al-Sharaa.

Relations between the two countries had been strained under Assad, with Lebanon's political factions deeply divided between those supporting and opposing Assad's rule.

Mikati told journalists following his meeting with al-Sharaa that the two countries will form a committee to work on demarcation of the border, which has never been officially defined.

Mikati also said they will work together to combat smuggling on the porous frontier.

“Some of the matters on the border need to be fully controlled, especially at illegal border points, to stop any smuggling operation between Lebanon and Syria,” he said.

One particularly knotty issue is the area known as Chebaa Farms, which is currently controlled by Israel as part of the Golan Heights it captured from Syria in 1967 and subsequently annexed. Most of the international community regards the area as occupied.

Beirut and Damascus say Chebaa Farms belong to Lebanon. The United Nations says the area is part of Syria and that Damascus and Israel should negotiate its fate. The fact that the Lebanon-Syria border was never clearly demarcated has complicated the issue.

In response to a question about demarcation, al-Sharaa did not give a clear answer.

“I think it is too early to talk about all the details of border demarcation,” he said. “There are so many problems in the Syrian reality. We can’t solve it all at once.”

Al-Sharaa said he hopes, meanwhile, that issues at the official border crossing will soon be resolved. Lebanese citizens, who had previously crossed easily into Syria without needing a visa, are currently barred from entry.

“We seek to have social ties between us that increase and not decrease, so any border obstacles between us should be eliminated in the future, but this is a detailed matter for customs officials,” al-Sharaa said.

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Sewell reported from Beirut.

CORRECTS SPELLING OF MOHAMMAD Security members of the new Syrian government stand guard outside the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

CORRECTS SPELLING OF MOHAMMAD Security members of the new Syrian government inspect people outside the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

CORRECTS SPELLING OF MOHAMMAD Security members of the new Syrian government check people outside the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A man carries his child as they pray at the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A man prays at the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A man walks at the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A man carries his child as they pray at the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

In this photo released by Syrian State TV, four suspects arrested in connection with an alleged plot by ISIS are shown standing against a wall in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Syrian intelligence officials, operating under the country's new de facto government, thwarted an attempt by ISIS to detonate a bomb at the Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zaynab in the Damascus suburb, according to state media reports on Saturday.(Syrian State TV via AP)

In this photo released by Syrian State TV, one of four suspects arrested in connection with an alleged plot by ISIS is escorted by security officers in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Syrian intelligence officials, operating under the country's new de facto government, thwarted an attempt by ISIS to detonate a bomb at the Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zaynab in the Damascus suburb, according to state media reports on Saturday.(Syrian State TV via AP)

In this photo released by Syrian State TV, four suspects arrested in connection with an alleged plot by ISIS are shown standing against a wall in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Syrian intelligence officials, operating under the country's new de facto government, thwarted an attempt by ISIS to detonate a bomb at the Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zaynab in the Damascus suburb, according to state media reports on Saturday.(Syrian State TV via AP)

In this photo released by Lebanon's Prime Minister's office, Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, right, meets with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Damascus, Syria, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (LEBANON PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE via AP)

LEICESTER, England (AP) — Jacob Murphy scored twice in the first 11 minutes and set Newcastle on its way to a 3-0 win over a hapless Leicester in the Premier League on Monday.

Murphy’s goals were the main talking point, along with the second-half appearance of Jeremy Monga, who at 15 years, 271 days, became the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League.

Monga replaced Bilal El Khannouss for Leicester 16 minutes from time wearing a different, logo-less shirt from his teammates because he is too young to advertise the betting firm that sponsors the home side.

Murphy scored the opener after two minutes when he stole in at the back post to convert a low cross from Tino Livramento. Leicester had six men inside the six-yard box but the ball went past them all and Murphy made no mistake.

The well-travelled winger scored a breathtaking second nine minutes later thanks largely to the audacity of Fabian Schär.

Schär’s attempt from inside his own half bounced back off the crossbar with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen well beaten but Murphy followed up to slam home the rebound with the Leicester defence AWOL.

Former Leicester winger Harvey Barnes scored the third after 33 minutes when he poked home a Joelinton shot that the keeper parried.

It was a damage limitation exercise from then on for Leicester, which became the first league team to lose eight consecutive home matches without scoring. It remained second to last, three points behind Ipswich and five behind Wolves.

“It’s hard to describe, to be honest, with how it’s been and it makes us feel awful right at the moment," Leicester defender James Justin said. “You feel disconnection and disappointment when you step off the pitch ... it’s not been good enough for a couple of months now.

“I don’t know how many games it’s been since we last picked up a point. It’s a horrible moment for the club with how we’re playing on the pitch and trying to regain any confidence. There were bright spells from the lads who came off the bench and that’s the one positive to take.

“There is still a chance for us and we have to fight and claw for it but we aren’t showing it on the pitch.”

Newcastle moved into fifth, equal on points with the team above it, Chelsea.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy, left, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy, center, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game with teammate Alexander Isak during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with teammate Dan Burn during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)