In Syria, former intelligence chief Kamal Hassan and former President Bashar al-Assad's cousin, oligarch Rami Makhlouf, are forming new groups consisting of tens of thousands of armed individuals with the aim of instigating a rebellion in the country's coastal provinces.
Modern.az reports that Reuters published this information in a comprehensive investigation.
According to the agency, Hassan and Makhlouf are also fighting to seize control over 14 underground weapons depots created before the collapse of the Syrian regime. The goal is to regain power within the Alawite community, which has been a pillar of the state for years.
According to the information, Bashar al-Assad has virtually withdrawn from political processes after his flight. However, high-ranking individuals around him are not reconciled with losing their influence, and a serious rivalry prevails among them.
Sources indicate that Kamal Hassan, Rami Makhlouf, and other claimants are currently channeling significant financial resources to form approximately 50,000 armed fighters in Syria and Lebanon. The majority of these fighters are representatives of the Alawite community.
As part of its investigation, Reuters interviewed approximately 50 people and examined financial and operational documents, as well as audio and text correspondence. The agency reports that there are also contradictions among the assistants of those preparing the rebellion, who operate in Russia, Lebanon, and the UAE, and none of them want Bashar al-Assad to be returned to power.
The investigation notes that Kamal Hassan is constantly in contact with former commanders, complains about losing his sphere of influence, and is making “big plans” to govern the Syrian coastal region.
