Al Arabiya: Iran-led plot targeted Syrian President al-Sharaa for elimination

Several media sources have reported the exposure of an alleged plot by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to assassinate Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

According to a recent report by Al Arabiya, a secret high-level meeting took place in Najaf, Iraq, where senior IRGC generals and former Syrian regime officers convened to discuss the elimination of al-Sharaa, per Caliber.Az reports.

The meeting reportedly centred around strategies to assassinate the Syrian leader as part of Iran’s efforts to regain influence in Syria, which has diminished in recent years. It also involved discussions on executing a military coup and leveraging internal and external divisions to advance Tehran’s geopolitical agenda.

Attendees allegedly included representatives from several armed groups, including:

• The banned PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party)
• ISIS
• YPG (People’s Protection Units)
• Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)
• Hezbollah

The assassination plan was said to involve the use of internal sleeper cells and ISIS-linked elements, exploiting security gaps within the Syrian government to facilitate the attack.

The plot also included deliberate efforts to instigate ethnic and sectarian tensions across key regions of Syria, particularly in:

• Al-Suwaida
• Latakia
• Tartus
• Homs
• Raqqa
• Hasakeh
• Deir al-Zor

To support the destabilization plan, agreements were allegedly made for logistical and armed support via various border crossings, such as:

• Deir ez-Zor – al-Bukamal
• Hasakeh – al-Qaim – Rabia – al-Malikiya

Additionally, supplies were planned to be delivered by sea, using Tartus and Latakia as maritime routes.

Lebanese Hezbollah and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces were reportedly assigned critical roles in the operation, including:

• Establishing secret armed cells in Alawite-dominated areas
• Stockpiling and distributing weapons and ammunition
• Setting up secure communication networks to coordinate attacks

Iran also intended to mobilize foreign Shiite fighters from Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly through the Zainabiyoun and Fatemiyoun brigades, who would be transported via PKK-controlled territories.

A maritime corridor between Latakia and southern Cyprus was allegedly planned for smuggling weapons and fighters, while Hezbollah would assist in ground transportation from Lebanon.

Iran reportedly viewed creating chaos in Syria as a means to increase the likelihood of international intervention — particularly greater US and coalition support for PKK-controlled territories — which could ultimately allow Tehran to reshape the geopolitical landscape to its advantage.

The meeting also discussed potential methods of carrying out the assassination, including the use of internal operatives, ISIS elements, and government infiltrators to exploit weaknesses in Syria’s security apparatus.

By Tamilla Hasanova