UN report reveals five assassination plots against Syrian president, ministers foiled

The United Nations has documented five assassination attempts against Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani during 2025, according to the secretary-general's 22nd report on the Daesh threat. The Washington Post obtained the assessment, prepared jointly with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, which details the sustained operational capacity of terrorist networks inside Syria.

Front Groups and Plausible Deniability

Two plots targeting the president occurred in Aleppo and Daraa, executed by Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah—a group not formally designated by the UN but assessed to function as an Daesh front. The arrangement provided the terror organization plausible deniability while enhancing its regional operational reach. The report underscores that despite coalition counterterrorism efforts, Daesh cells maintain active presence across Syrian territory.

Fragile Security and Sectarian Agendas

Attacks continue to concentrate against security forces, particularly in northern and northeastern regions, including one operation targeting joint Syrian-U.S. coalition personnel. The report warns that Daesh deliberately seeks to inflame sectarian tensions through attacks on places of worship, aiming to weaken national authorities. An estimated 3,000 Daesh fighters remain operational across Iraq and Syria, with the majority based in Syrian territory. While the Syrian desert no longer constitutes the group's primary stronghold, it retains strategic significance.

Syria's Evolving Counterterrorism Role

Syria formally joined the anti-Daesh coalition in November 2025—a significant shift, as Damascus was excluded from the 2014-formed alliance during the previous administration. Since the Assad regime's fall in late 2024, the new Syrian administration has prioritized tightening nationwide security conditions. The report concludes that despite operational setbacks, Daesh maintains both the intent and capability to exploit political and sectarian divisions.