A new thriller is unfolding in Syria as rumors suggest a strike against the country's transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is reportedly either dead or in critical condition following a bloody clash at the presidential palace. The uncertainty surrounding the fate of this top political figure is causing turmoil in Syria's already fragile political scene, while international observers anxiously monitor developments that could once again dramatically shift the balance of power in the country.
Specifically, the absence of any public appearance by the Syrian president, Al-Sharaa—also known as Jolani—over the last five days has drawn significant attention. According to reports, Al-Sharaa is alleged to be either dead or wounded during an altercation at the presidential palace and subsequently transported to a hospital in Turkey. It should be noted that the Syrian president has been receiving death threats from ISIS, while within the armed forces, there are extremist groups reacting strongly to his pivot toward the West, creating an explosive political environment. Turkish media outlets appear to be studiously avoiding coverage of the issue, intensifying the sense of secrecy surrounding the situation.
The tension is also reflected in relations with the Kurds of northern Syria. A delegation from the Democratic Forces of Syria (SDF), led by YPG leader M. Abdi, did not meet with Al-Sharaa during their visit to Damascus for talks. This fact suggests the president's inability to maintain open channels of communication with the country's major political players. The situation appears to be particularly difficult for Al-Sharaa, who faces serious obstacles in his attempt to stabilize Syria and create a unified state.
Israel warned of assassination plot against Al-Sharaa in Syria – Risks from Iran and former al-Assad allies
Meanwhile, according to Israeli sources, Iran is allegedly planning to assassinate Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, just as Syria and Israel prepare to resume US-mediated negotiations in Paris on Tuesday to reach a security agreement. According to Israeli military assessments, al-Sharaa faces threats from Iran and other hostile actors. Israeli defense officials believe Tehran views al-Sharaa as a factor weakening its influence network in the region. Syrian authorities have not commented publicly on the Israeli assessment regarding the Iranian assassination attempt, while the Syrian Ministry of Interior denied separate rumors of an attempt against al-Sharaa, calling them "completely false."
Al-Sharaa has survived numerous attempts on his life in the past, following the overthrow of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad during the surprise operation that led to the regime's collapse in Damascus. In November 2025, Syrian authorities thwarted two separate assassination attempts by the Islamic State organization. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack also warned of risks to al-Sharaa's life due to his increasingly close ties with the West.
He appeared publicly... on video
However, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appeared in a video released on Monday, January 5, using the country's new currency, following the Ministry of Interior's denials regarding reports of an armed incident at the presidential palace. In the video circulating online Monday afternoon, Sharaa is seen purchasing items from a shop in Damascus using the new Syrian currency, which was put into circulation on January 1.
Ministry of Interior spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba stated that "reports claiming a security incident targeted" Sharaa or other senior officials are "completely groundless." "We categorically state that these claims are absolutely false," he added. Nevertheless, a diplomat from a country supporting the new Syrian authorities, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed that "gunfire occurred at the presidential palace on the night of December 30."
Former al-Assad associates finance Alawite gunmen
At the same time, former top generals and allies of al-Assad currently in exile in Moscow are channeling millions of dollars to recruit fighters in Syria for an alleged insurgency plan. Former al-Assad military counter-intelligence chief Kamal Hassan and the wealthy cousin of the ousted dictator, Rami Makhlouf, are conducting operations to establish armed groups within the Alawite minority, according to a December 2025 Reuters investigation.
A New York Times investigation revealed that Makhlouf is working closely with Suhail al-Hassan, a former special forces commander known as "The Tiger," who is coordinating recruitment efforts. The two rival networks claim to be financing between 12,000 and 54,000 fighters, funneling between $1.2 million and $6 million into the effort, though these figures are widely disputed. Both groups are competing for control of 14 underground command centers built along the coast during al-Assad's rule, which house weapons and equipment. The presence of these fighters extends across the coastal provinces of Latakia, Tartous, Homs, and Hama, as well as parts of Lebanon. Maher al-Assad, brother of the former president who commanded an elite division and remains in Moscow, has not provided funding or orders, according to sources close to the family.
Funding sources and drug involvement
Rami Makhlouf amassed a massive fortune, estimated between $5 billion and $10 billion, by controlling telecommunications, banks, real estate, and smuggling networks before being sidelined by Bashar al-Assad in 2020. Kamal Hassan grew wealthy through military counter-intelligence operations, extortion, and front companies. Members of the al-Assad family and loyal supporters also gathered significant wealth from the sale of Captagon, an amphetamine that funded the war effort following international sanctions against Damascus.
Maher al-Assad and "The Tiger" played a pivotal role in the production and distribution of the drug, which cost just cents to produce but sold for $5 to $25 per pill in the region. According to the New Lines Institute, the al-Assad family and its inner circle acquired approximately $2.4 billion annually from Captagon production and sales at the peak of the operation. After Al-Sharaa took power, the new government in Damascus made significant efforts to dismantle illegal drug networks, with Captagon seizures reaching historic lows. Nevertheless, some production and trafficking still exist, primarily linked to al-Assad loyalists with ties to Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.
In March 2025, remnants of al-Assad supporters attempted to attack patrols in Tartous and Latakia, but the Syrian Ministries of Interior and Defense neutralized the uprising within 24 hours, killing and arresting dozens, while investigations recorded 1,426 civilian and military deaths. Ahmed al-Shami, the governor of Tartous, stated that Syrian authorities are aware of the plans and are confident they can prevent them.
Iran and Russia's support for al-Assad loyalists
Al-Assad and Hezbollah have support from Iran and are considered key regional proxies for the Tehran regime. Suhail al-Hassan's "Tiger Forces" collaborated with Hezbollah and Iranian militias during the Syrian civil war but were primarily supported by the Kremlin, which intervened in Syria in favor of al-Assad. Makhlouf, a former al-Assad ally turned rival, founded and funded the "Al-Bustan Association," officially a charitable organization, which collaborated with Iran for its infiltration into Syria and helped establish centers in coastal areas.
Syria – Israel negotiations
At the same time, officials from Syria and Israel are preparing to resume negotiations in Paris, aimed at reaching a security agreement and de-escalating tensions between the two countries. According to Syrian sources, Damascus's primary objective is the activation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established a UN-monitored buffer zone in southern Syria, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which took control of this zone more than a year ago. Israel and Syria have been in a technical state of war since 1948. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed the region in 1981, a move that is not internationally recognized.
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