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A source at the Syrian Ministry of Information has denied reports circulated by several media outlets claiming that the Syrian Army and Turkish intelligence thwarted an assassination attempt targeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his visit to Daraa Province.
According to the source, the rumors began circulating on June 28 following the publication of a report by the Lebanese outlet LBCI.
LBCI had alleged that “an assassination attempt" on al-Sharaa, which was foiled by the Syrian Army in coordination with Turkish intelligence, had been planned during his visit to Daraa.
The channel further claimed that the attempt “was orchestrated by a Daesh-affiliated cell, headed by a man from Daraa, who was arrested by the Syrian Army one day before the president’s visit.”
SANA news agency quoted the source from the ministry as saying: “There is no truth to the reports circulated by several media outlets alleging that the Syrian Army and Turkish Intelligence foiled an assassination attempt on al-Sharaa during his visit to Daraa.”
The Lebanese-French newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour previously revealed, citing diplomatic sources, that al-Sharaa has been targeted in at least two assassination attempts since assuming office last December.
The report indicated that one of the attempts took place in March.
According to the newspaper, extremist groups, including Daesh, are behind these assassination attempts with the aim of disrupting the political landscape in Syria.
The report added that Daesh is seeking to recruit fighters from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham who oppose the changes al-Sharaa has implemented in the structure of governance.
The warnings were not limited to media reports. Earlier, the U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrett, warned of serious threats targeting President al-Sharaa.
He noted that extremist factions might attempt to assassinate him to obstruct the new political process al-Sharaa is leading, which includes efforts to engage various Syrian communities and open up to the West.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Barrett stated that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump is “concerned that al-Sharaa could become the target of a potential assassination by disgruntled extremists.”
He called for “coordinated protective measures” around al-Sharaa, emphasizing that the response should focus on intelligence-sharing with allies rather than military intervention.
Barrett noted that some factions, composed of foreign fighters who previously fought alongside al-Sharaa in the swift campaign that toppled the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, are attempting to recruit members into extremist groups such as Daesh.
“The longer economic relief is delayed, the higher the risk that extremist groups will undermine the political process,” he added.
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