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Syria Thwarts Two IS Plots Targeting President Sharaa Ahead of U.S. Coalition Talks
Syria foils two separate Islamic State assassination plots against President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he prepares to meet Trump and formally join U.S.-led anti-IS coalition.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-10
Syria Thwarts Two IS Plots Targeting President Sharaa Ahead of U.S. Coalition Talks

Syrian authorities have successfully foiled two separate assassination plots against President Ahmed al-Sharaa, officials confirmed, highlighting the direct personal risk he faces as he seeks to consolidate power and join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS).

According to a senior Syrian security official and a Middle Eastern diplomat, one plot targeted a pre-announced official engagement of Sharaa, though details remain classified due to security concerns. The Syrian information ministry emphasized that IS continues to pose a “real security threat to Syria and the region,” noting that multiple attacks on key sites, including places of worship, had been prevented in the past ten months.

The assassination plots have emerged as Sharaa prepares for a historic meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, the first by a sitting Syrian head of state at the White House. The Syrian leader, who came to power last December after the Islamist rebel force he led ousted Bashar al-Assad, aims to present himself as a moderate leader and secure international support for Syria’s reconstruction.

Sharaa’s government has initiated a nationwide campaign against IS cells, apprehending over 70 suspects, as part of both internal security measures and a signal of Syria’s intention to contribute to the global fight against the militants. Syrian officials stressed that the cooperation with the U.S. military, formalized through coalition membership, will strengthen operations against IS.

Before assuming power, Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, but severed ties in 2016 and has since been actively combating IS through arrests and military campaigns, particularly in Idlib.

Despite IS attempting a resurgence in Syria following Assad’s fall, Sharaa’s overtures toward the West and pledges to govern inclusively across sectarian lines have placed him at odds with the group’s extremist narrative. In June, a suicide bombing at a Damascus church killed 25 people, an attack blamed on IS by the government.

Sharaa’s impending coalition membership is expected to increase U.S.-Syrian military coordination, build confidence with Washington, and potentially influence the lifting of sanctions. Reports also suggest the U.S. is preparing a military presence at a Damascus airbase, although operational details remain undisclosed for security reasons.

Syria’s foiled plots against Sharaa underscore both the persistent IS threat and the high-stakes nature of Syria’s pivot toward cooperation with Western allies amid the country’s ongoing post-civil war challenges.
Tagged:

Terrorism

Syria

IslamicState

AhmedSharaa

USCoalition
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