FLASH NEWS
Millions of dollars and thousands of fighters, the plan of Assad's former allies to overthrow the new Syrian government is revealed
2025-12-06 16:01:52 / BOTA
Supporters of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad are trying to weaken the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a year after the fall of the Assad regime.
A Reuters investigation found that Assad's former allies are funneling millions of dollars to thousands of fighters, with the aim of starting uprisings in Syria's coastal areas and reestablishing their influence within the Muslim community.
Two of the most powerful figures leading this scheme are Major General Kamal Hassan, Assad's former head of military intelligence, and billionaire Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of the former dictator's family. Both are trying from their exile in Moscow to form militias composed of the Muslim minority, which has historically been Assad's supporters.
According to documents and Reuters sources, these actors financially cover more than 50,000 fighters, although many of them receive funding from both sides and have a low level of willingness to act.
One of the biggest threats is 14 underground shelters and depots in coastal areas of Syria, stocked with weapons, ammunition, communications equipment and survival supplies. Three senior officials, two military officers and a regional governor confirmed their existence, adding that although they are functional, they have lost much of their former operational power.
Hassan and Makhlouf are competing for influence and loyalty within the Muslim community, trying to secure the support of hundreds of former soldiers and minority youth.
According to some sources, Kamal Hassan controls around 12,000 fighters, while Makhlouf claims to have over 54,000. Many of these fighters receive minimum wages.
To counter these plans, the Al-Sharaa government has engaged Khaled al-Ahmad, a close friend of the Assad family and former paramilitary commander of the previous regime, who turned against the former dictator.
He is tasked with convincing Muslims that their security is better guaranteed under the Al-Sharaa government and not through the regime's former leaders abroad. Al-Ahmad is coordinating economic and social programs to reduce discontent within the Muslim community and prevent the radicalization of young people.
Experts warn that any attempted uprising could reignite sectarian tensions and further destabilize Syria, which is still trying to consolidate the legitimacy of the new government.
The internal conflict between former Assad supporters and the Sharaa government shows that the struggle for control of the Muslim community and influence in the coastal areas is not over yet.
Local officials say there is currently no evidence that these militias have been actively mobilized, but their underwater network and secret hideouts give them the capacity to act quickly in the event of a potential uprising.
The government is carefully monitoring the financial activities and movements of Assad's former allies in exile, including Moscow, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.
This development highlights the ongoing challenge to Syria's stability after 14 years of civil war, where religious and ethnic communities continue to be affected by past conflicts and power struggles between former regime supporters and new authorities.
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