IDF sources: Iran plotting to assassinate Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa

Iran plotting to assassinate Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, IDF sources warn

ByAMIR BOHBOT

Iran is working together with additional hostile elements to assassinate Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, IDF sources warn. 

The warning was issued recently against the backdrop of the opening of contacts between Israel and Syria. It also comes amid rising regional tensions and is based on security intelligence indicating that Sharaa faces real threats and has been forced to invest significant efforts in protecting himself and stabilizing his regime.

It also comes as the defense establishment emphasizes that the lessons of October 7require insistence on an IDF presence on Syrian territory. According to the security establishment’s position, this presence is defined as a “primary shield” for communities along the Israeli-Syrian border.

Walla has learned that in recent months, several discussions have taken place under the leadership of Defense Minister Israel Katz with the participation of senior defense establishment officials. At the end of the discussions, it was decided that the establishment’s position is that there should be no withdrawal from Syrian territory and the Mount Hermon region.

A senior IDF security source said that the army's senior officials endorsed the defense minister's position on the matter.

According to IDF sources, government policy divides Israeli activity in Syria into three main areas. The first is the security zone on the line of contact, where IDF troops operate in the area of ​​the international Israeli-Syrian border, with the aim of directly protecting the nearby communities, as well as deeper into the State of Israel.

The second area is the security zone, which includes Syrian territory within approximately 15 km of the Israeli border. This area contains villages, towns, and traffic routes, and the IDF is working to prevent the entry and establishment of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.

The third area is the area of ​​influence, which extends from southern Sweida to the outskirts of Damascus. This area is defined as a demilitarized zone where Israel monitors what is happening, with the aim of preventing the entry of hostile elements, the introduction of advanced weapons systems, or the establishment of military bases.