Reuters: Russia's Assad Supporters Plan Uprising In Syria
- 7.12.2025, 8:37
Transferring millions of dollars to potential fighters.
Supporters of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after his fall, are pouring millions of dollars into potential fighters, hoping to foment an uprising against the new government and regain lost influence.
That's according to Reuters.
The agency writes that Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia a year ago, has largely resigned himself to exile in Moscow. But other senior officials in his inner circle, including his brother, have not resigned themselves to losing power.
Reuters has learned that two men once close to Assad - Major General Kamal Hassan and billionaire Rami Makhlouf - are competing to form a militia on Syria's coast and in Lebanon. They envision it to be formed from members of the Alawite sect, which has long been linked to the Assad family.
Who Assad's supporters are counting on
In all, the two men and other groups vying for power are funding more than 50,000 fighters in hopes of winning their loyalty.
One advantage for Hassan and Makhlouf is control of a network of 14 underground command rooms built around Syria's coast at the end of Assad's rule, as well as weapons caches. Two officers and the Syrian regional governor confirmed the existence of these hidden rooms.
Hassan, who was Assad's military intelligence chief, constantly calls and sends voice messages to commanders and advisers.
Makhlouf, Assad's cousin, once used his business empire to finance the dictator during the civil war, but then had a falling out with his more powerful relatives and spent years under house arrest. Now, in talks and reports, he portrays himself as a messianic figure who will return to power once the "apocalyptic final battle" begins.
Who can stand up to the rebels
But, Reuters notes, the exiles do not appear to have mobilized any forces yet. In addition, many Alawites in Syria do not trust Assad's former associates.
To counter the plotters, Syria's new government is bringing in another former Assad supporter, a childhood friend of new President Ahmed al-Sharaa Khaled al-Ahmad. He was a leader of Assad's paramilitary forces, but switched sides to the new government after the dictator turned his back on him. His job is to convince former Alawite soldiers and civilians that their future is with the new Syria.
The details of the investigation are based on interviews with 48 people with direct knowledge of potential rebel plans. They all spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kamal Hassan and Rami Makhlouf did not respond to inquiries. Bashar and Maher al-Assad could not be reached, Reuters noted.
What Bashar al-Assad is accused of
In September 2025, Syria's Justice Ministry issued an arrest warrant for the country's former president, Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after the opposition's victory in December 2024.
Assad is accused of deliberately killing and torturing people and provoking a civil war.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky supported the arrest warrant for Assad. He also mentioned other individuals who are hiding with him in Moscow.
He called it revealing that the world's most notorious killers and criminals are hiding from justice in the capital of impunity.