Tartous, Aug. 8 (SANA)Syria’sInternal Security Forces, in coordination with the General Intelligence Service, foiled an attempt to smuggle a shipment of weapons and ammunition fromTartousprovince toLebanon, the Interior Ministry said Saturday.

The operation led to the seizure of the shipment, which included automatic rifles, RPG rounds, weapons storage units and various types of ammunition prepared forsmuggling, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel.

The operation was carried out as part of efforts to prevent weapons smuggling across Syria’s borders, the statement said.

In July, theInterior Ministrysaid specialized units had foiled an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of weapons across the Syrian-Iraqi border, seizing the shipment before it entered Syrian territory.

The ministry said at the time that protecting the borders and safeguarding national sovereignty were top priorities, adding that Syria would not allow its territory to be used as a corridor or launchpad for weapons smuggling or activities threatening the security of Syria or neighboring countries.