Bashar al-Assad talks to soldiers during a visit to Jobar, northeast of Damascus, earlier this year. Israel has never commented publicly on suspicions it killed one of his top advisers in 2008. Photograph: Reuters
Leaked recordings show ex-Syrian generals planning insurgency
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Leaked recordings reveal former Syrian regime leaders planning armed moves along the coast.
- Rami Makhlouf and former generals coordinate efforts, seeking external support.
Al Jazeera has obtained recordings and documents showing senior figures from the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime attempting to reorganize and plan armed activity along Syria’s coastal region.
The material, part of Al Jazeera’s upcoming program Al-Mutahari, indicates that the main supporter of these moves is Rami Makhlouf, the businessman and cousin of Bashar al-Assad, while former special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan and retired Brigadier Ghiyath Dalla played central operational roles.
Coordinated planning and cell activation
The documents and recordings detail discussions on arranging military operations and activating pro-regime cells. Sources said that the materials were leaked by a person who hacked phones of several former Assad officers, posing as an officer in the Israeli Mossad. This access yielded sensitive conversations and recordings about military strategies.
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Over 74 hours of audio recordings and more than 600 documents, revealing precise details on how former regime elements aim to restructure themselves and coordinate among former military and security leaders, according to Al Jazeera.
Outreach and external support
Recordings show al-Hassan praising 'Israeli' operations in Gaza and attempting to convince someone he believed was an 'Israeli' officer to provide support for his internal maneuvers. The documents suggest efforts to open external channels as part of seeking cover or assistance for potential military actions.
Targeting coastal strongholds
The planning reportedly focused on the coastal region, traditionally home to senior officers and figures from the previous regime. The discussions were not limited to theory but included detailed arrangements for operations intended to destabilize the area.
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International perspective
Last week, an investigation by The New York Times revealed that former syrian generals in exile in Russia and Lebanon continue to plan armed rebellion. The report highlighted that the fall of Assad’s regime did not end the influence of its military and security elite, with some working to destabilize the current Syrian government and reclaim areas of control.
These findings underscore ongoing security risks in Syria as remnants of the previous regime attempt to reorganize and assert influence from within and abroad.
