Syrian government denies reports of foiled assassination attempt on al-Sharaa
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A source in the Syrian Ministry of Information denied on Sunday reports claiming the Syrian Army, in coordination with Turkish intelligence, had thwarted an assassination attempt targeting Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his recent visit to Daraa Governorate, southern Syria.
According to the media reports, the alleged attempt was planned to coincide with al-Sharaa’s visit and was foiled by a joint effort between Syrian forces and Turkish intelligence. The operation reportedly targeted a cell affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), allegedly led by a man from Daraa who was arrested a day before al-Sharaa’s arrival.
However, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA quoted a source from the Ministry of Information who dismissed the claims entirely, stating, “There is no truth to the reports about the Syrian Arab Army and Turkish intelligence thwarting an assassination attempt against President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his visit to Daraa.”
Al-Sharaa has previously been the target of at least two reported assassination attempts since taking office, according to various media sources. One such attempt was said to have occurred in March.
U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, had earlier expressed concern about persistent threats to al-Sharaa’s life, warning that extremist actors continue to pose a risk. He emphasized the need to establish a coordinated security framework to address these threats effectively.
Barrack also noted that the danger is not limited to ISIS remnants or jihadist factions, but may also come from groups that had once supported al-Sharaa militarily but later defected, citing dissatisfaction with what they perceive as delays in political and economic reforms.