Syrian security forces thwarted an attempt to smuggle anti-personnel fragmentation mines, produced in 1989, into Lebanon from the Qusseir area in southwestern Homs on September 17th, 2025. This incident follows a similar mine seizure just two weeks prior in Daraa province, according to reports. The seized items included rare cassettes containing Russian "POM-2" anti-personnel fragmentation mines, which can be deployed by systems such as BM-21 or BM-27 launchers. The warehouse containing these mines was discovered today in a house in Nawa, northern Daraa province, based on a tip from a resident, as stated by QalaatAlMudiq. In parallel developments, Samsung has officially returned to operation in Syria as of September 17th, 2025. A ceremony marking this occasion was attended by Syria's Ministers of Communications & IT Abdulsalam Haykal, Finance Minister Mohammed Barniya, and Higher Education Minister Marwan al-Halabi, according to Charles Lister. Earlier on September 17th, 2025, Syrian and Lebanese foreign ministries held cooperation talks in Beirut. A Syrian technical delegation met with Lebanese Director of Political and Consulate Affairs Ibrahim Assaf, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations. Separately, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin reportedly met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus between 3:06 PM UTC and 4:49 PM UTC on the same day. Additionally, Druze leadership in Syria’s southern Suwayda province rejected a roadmap aimed at addressing the province's crisis, a plan that was backed by Syria, Jordan, and the United States. This rejection followed deadly violence in July that resulted in over 2,000 fatalities. The City Market in Aleppo's Dhahret Awad district also officially reopened on September 17th, 2025, after rehabilitation efforts.
