Syria foils two Islamic State plots to assassinate President Sharaa ahead of US visit: Report

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa - File Photo

Syrian intelligence agencies have reportedly disrupted two separate Islamic State (IS) plots to assassinate President Ahmed al-Sharaa in recent months, according to Reuters, which cited two senior officials familiar with the matter. The revelation highlights the severe personal risks facing the Syrian leader as he pushes to reposition his country within a US-led coalition against the militant group.

A senior Syrian security official and a senior Middle Eastern official told Reuters that both assassination attempts were foiled over the past few months. They described the threats as part of IS’s broader effort to destabilize the new Syrian administration. One of the attempts allegedly involved plans to attack President al-Sharaa during a scheduled public appearance, though officials declined to share further details, citing ongoing security operations.

“These foiled plots show the persistent danger that President al-Sharaa faces as he works to consolidate control and rebuild a fractured Syria,” one of the officials said.

The reports come at a crucial moment for Damascus. President al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Washington next week for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, marking the first time a Syrian head of state will officially visit the White House. The talks are expected to focus on Syria’s formal entry into the global coalition against the Islamic State, a move that underscores a dramatic realignment of the country’s foreign policy.

From Islamist commander to reformist President

Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power last December after leading an Islamist rebel coalition that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad. Since assuming office, Sharaa has sought to project a moderate and reformist image, reaching out to Western capitals and regional powers for reconstruction support and political recognition.

Syria’s pivot toward the West marks a stark shift from the Assad era, when Damascus maintained close ties with Russia and Iran. The new administration is instead cultivating partnerships with Arab and Western governments in a bid to re-establish legitimacy and secure aid for rebuilding a nation shattered by more than 14 years of civil war.

Crackdown on Islamic State networks

The attempted assassinations were revealed shortly after Syria’s Interior Ministry launched what officials described as a “nationwide crackdown” on Islamic State cells. According to Reuters, government media reported that security forces detained more than 70 suspected militants over the weekend.

A senior Syrian security official told the agency that the operation was driven by intelligence pointing to fresh IS plots targeting government buildings and minority communities. “The operation was also a message,” the official said, “to show that Syrian intelligence has deep insight into IS networks and that Syria can contribute significantly to global counterterrorism efforts.”

Persistent security threats

Despite growing international recognition, al-Sharaa’s government continues to face frequent attacks. Islamic State remnants have carried out suicide bombings, targeted assassinations, and ambushes across the country in an effort to discredit the administration’s claims of stability.

In June, a suicide bombing at a church in Damascus killed 25 people. Although the attack was not claimed, Syrian officials attributed it to IS operatives seeking to ignite sectarian tensions.

Analysts say the plots to assassinate al-Sharaa reflect the group’s frustration over his shifting alliances. Before becoming president, al-Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction that was once affiliated with al-Qaeda. He formally broke with the network in 2016 and has since directed multiple military campaigns against Islamic State, including in HTS’s former stronghold of Idlib.

Quiet cooperation with the United States

According to Syrian officials quoted by Reuters, al-Sharaa’s administration has already been quietly coordinating with U.S. forces in the battle against IS. Joining the coalition formally is expected to enhance military and intelligence collaboration and could also strengthen Syria’s case for the removal of remaining US sanctions by the end of the year.

Last week, Reuters also reported that the United States was preparing to deploy forces at a Damascus airbase for the first time. While a U.S. administration official declined to identify the location, citing operational security, Syrian state media dismissed the report without clarifying which aspects it disputed.

As President al-Sharaa prepares for his meeting with Trump, the dual threat from Islamic State and domestic instability remains a major test. The foiled plots underline how fragile Syria’s security situation remains, even as the new leadership attempts to recast its global image from pariah state to counterterrorism partner.