The Interior Ministry said the arrests were carried out by the State Security Agency, which “apprehended 24 citizens, one of whom had his citizenship revoked,” and seized funds linked to illicit activities. It described the case as an organized effort to collect money under religious pretexts for transfer abroad.

Officials said the operation had “thwarted a plot targeting the undermining of the homeland’s security and the financing of terrorist entities and organizations,” without naming specific groups or countries involved.

The Kuwait Interior Ministry said the funds were gathered in coordination with external actors, indicating cross-border links in the alleged network.In a subsequent move, the Kuwait Foreign Ministry placed the suspects on the country’s domestic counterterrorism designation list, freezing their assets and imposing travel restrictions.

A security source confirmed that five former members of Kuwait’s parliament were among those detained, though their identities were not disclosed in the official statement.The arrests come amid increased security vigilance in the Gulf following escalating conflict in the region.

Authorities have stepped up actions against individuals suspected of supporting groups aligned with Hezbollah or other Iran-linked entities.

In March, Kuwait detained six people accused of ties to Hezbollah and of planning assassinations, according to officials.

Checkpoints staffed by security personnel and volunteers have proliferated across the capital since the conflict began, initially marked by military vehicles and road barriers. While some visible fortifications have been scaled back following recent airstrikes, residents say patrols remain widespread, with teenagers now playing an increasingly prominent role.

Witness accounts describe adolescents aged 13 to 14 manning checkpoints, stopping vehicles and conducting searches. A 28-year-old resident told AFP that she was stopped at two checkpoints in northern Tehran, where teenage boys carrying weapons inspected her phone and personal belongings without consent, calling the encounter intrusive.

Another resident said that beyond formal military checkpoints, groups of youths in private vehicles were independently stopping cars, opening doors and checking dashboards and mobile devices.Authorities have acknowledged lowering the minimum age for Basij recruitment to 12, citing high levels of interest among younger volunteers.

Rahim Nadali, an official with the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran, said on state television that the decision reflected demand from children seeking to participate in defense efforts.The Basij, an auxiliary force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has historically played a central role in internal security operations.

It was also reported to have been involved in suppressing anti-government protests in January, during which thousands were killed.The expanded use of minors has drawn concern from rights groups and analysts. Some observers interpret the move as an indication of manpower shortages, while others see it as a sign of a more hardline approach by authorities seeking to consolidate control amid external and internal pressures.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, urged supporters to maintain a presence on the streets, framing domestic mobilization as part of a broader strategic effort alongside military and maritime pressures, including tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts say the intensified street presence is aimed at deterring potential unrest, particularly after calls from U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraging opposition activity at the outset of the war.

In addition to checkpoint duties, pro-government groups have organized nighttime patrols, using vehicles equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast slogans and display flags in residential areas.

Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said the government was increasingly reliant on a core base of ideologically committed supporters to maintain order. He noted that this strategy reflects deeper challenges to the state’s legitimacy but has proven effective in sustaining control during wartime conditions.

Human Rights Watch said the recruitment of children under 15 for military roles could constitute a war crime under international law and warned that their deployment exposes them to heightened risks, including potential targeting in military strikes.

Bill Van Esveld, the group’s associate director for children’s rights, said the policy suggested authorities were willing to endanger minors to bolster security capacity.

Weekly protests, which began with small turnouts following the launch of joint military operations by Israel and the United States on February 28, are drawing gradually larger crowds, though still far below last year’s mass demonstrations over the Gaza conflict.

In Tel Aviv, security forces moved to break up a rally at HaBima Square, citing emergency regulations that prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people due to ongoing missile threats from Iran and Lebanon.Police said 13 people were arrested in the city, while an additional five were detained in Haifa after protesters blocked roads and ignored instructions to disperse.

Authorities described the demonstrations as illegal under wartime guidelines.Footage showed officers forcibly removing protesters, with some individuals pushed to the ground during clashes.

Organizers, including groups such as Standing Together, Peace Now and Women Wage Peace, accused authorities of suppressing dissent. A spokesperson for one organizing group said the demonstrations had not received official authorization.

Participants expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the war’s objectives. “Nobody actually knows what is the aim,” said Yoram, a 52-year-old tour guide attending the Tel Aviv protest.Another protester, Joanne Levine, 76, criticized the government’s strategy, linking the conflict to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite the protests, public backing for the war remains strong. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 78 percent of Jewish Israelis support the conflict, compared to 19 percent among Arab Israeli citizens.

However, opposition is increasing, with the share of those against the war rising to 11.5 percent from 4 percent earlier in March, according to the survey.The demonstrations come as Israel continues to face sustained rocket and missile fire amid escalating regional hostilities.

A defense ministry official, cited by state news agency SANA, said the tunnel was located near the village of Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, west of Homs, and had been used by what the statement described as “Lebanese militias.”

The military has since sealed the passage.The closure comes as Syrian and Lebanese authorities step up efforts to curb smuggling across their porous border, particularly in mountainous regions that have long facilitated illicit trade and movement of goods and fighters.

Eastern Lebanon, adjacent to the Syrian border, is a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group currently engaged in hostilities with Israel.shifting regional dynamicsHezbollah had played a key role in supporting former Syrian president Bashar Assad during Syria’s civil conflict.

Following his overthrow in December 2024 by an Islamist coalition opposed to the group, key supply routes between Syria and Lebanon have been disrupted.

Authorities on both sides of the border have since moved to dismantle smuggling networks, reflecting broader shifts in regional alliances and security priorities.

No further details were provided on the scale of the tunnel or whether arrests were made in connection with its use.

The Syrian Arab Army announced that its units launched sweeping operations south of Hasakah, focusing on securing Al-Shaddadi prison and nearby security facilities while tracking down escaped Daesh members. Military officials said the deployments were part of a broader effort to stabilise the Jazira region following recent security breaches.

According to military statements, army units have established checkpoints and cordoned off key routes around Al-Shaddadi to prevent the movement of armed elements. Security forces are conducting targeted searches in residential and rural areas believed to be sheltering Daesh detainees released during the incident.

The army said it considers the SDF fully responsible for the release of Daesh components, warning that such actions directly threaten civilian safety and regional stability. Officials stressed that any lapse in prison security could allow extremist networks to reorganise and launch attacks.

Military sources said Syrian commanders contacted mediators and SDF representatives to coordinate the immediate handover of Al-Shaddadi prison and its perimeter to government internal security forces. These requests were declined, prompting the army to proceed with unilateral security measures.

The operations command confirmed that once security operations are completed, the prison and surrounding facilities will be transferred to the Ministry of Interior. Authorities said this step is essential to ensure unified control over detention centres holding high-risk militants.

Syrian forces also began deploying across wider parts of the Jazira region under a recent agreement between the Syrian state and the SDF. The agreement aims to reduce security vacuums and prevent armed groups from exploiting gaps created by fragmented authority.

Local residents reported increased military presence and patrols as government troops entered strategic zones in and around Hasakah. While some civilians expressed concern about renewed tensions, others said stronger security measures were necessary to prevent extremist violence.

Security analysts warn that Daesh sleeper cells remain active in parts of northeastern Syria despite years of military pressure. The release of detainees, even temporarily, risks reinvigorating militant networks and undermining counterterrorism efforts.

The Syrian army said it would continue operations until all released detainees are apprehended and the area is declared fully secure. Commanders emphasised that restoring state authority over prisons and security institutions is critical to long-term stability.

Officials added that coordination with local communities would be increased to gather intelligence and prevent militants from blending into civilian populations. The army urged residents to cooperate with security forces and report suspicious activity.

The developments come amid a fragile security environment in Syria, where shifting alliances and unresolved conflicts continue to complicate efforts to defeat extremist groups. Control over detention facilities remains a key issue, particularly in regions where multiple forces operate.

Government officials reiterated that any action endangering public safety would be met with firm measures. They stressed that the state would not allow the re-emergence of Daesh under any circumstances.

As operations continue, attention remains focused on whether the arrests will succeed in neutralising remaining threats and whether negotiations over prison control can prevent similar incidents in the future.