The recent arrest of a senior former Syrian army officer sheds new light on the depth of the Alawite insurgency facing the al-Sharaa regime and explains why Damascus is treating the issue as a top-tier security threat.

According to Syria’s official SANA news agency, Internal Security Command in Latakia arrested Ali Aziz Sabira, a native of Jableh and a key leader of terror cells that carried out attacks against internal security and Syrian army positions. Sabira was also involved in arming additional terror cells. Investigators say he maintained direct operational ties with Brig. Gen. Ghiyath Dallah and Brig. Gen. Nawras Makhlouf, both prominent Alawite figures linked to the ongoing revolt.

Authorities stated that Sabira’s criminal activity dates back to the early days of the Syrian uprising. He initially joined the “National Defense” militia, taking part in the violent suppression of peaceful protests. In 2014, he formally enlisted in the Fourth Division under the command of Maher al-Assad, participating in multiple battles on behalf of the former Assad regime. His activities, according to the Interior Ministry, continued well beyond the collapse of that regime.