Reports of Movements by the Remnants of the Overthrown Syrian Regime in Lebanon Raise Concerns

SadaNews - Concerns and warnings are rising about attempts to rearrange the military scene against the Syrian government, with the spread of documents and recordings regarding the movements of elements from the remnants of the overthrown Syrian regime in Lebanese areas near the border, particularly in the town of Al-Haysa in Akkar province.

Recent documents published through media outlets show the roles of former "Brigade 42" leader, Ghiyath Dela, and former "Elite Forces" leader, Suhail al-Hassan, in coordinating military operations and activating pro-regime cells, in addition to preparing offices in Lebanon to manage these movements.

Potential Military Movements

The documents highlight the existence of military groups affiliated with the remnants, distributed across the Syrian provinces, with details about their numbers, forms of armament, and financing methods.

It reveals that about 20 former pilots, led by Brigadier Pilot Mahmoud Hasouri, are residing in Lebanon with their families and wish to join Suhail al-Hassan's forces.

It also indicates that some Lebanese groups are ready to participate in potential armed movements.

Double Danger

In this context, Lebanese journalist and political activist Jad Yatim stated that "Lebanon is witnessing the presence of several officers and military personnel from the former Syrian regime," warning that these groups represent a "great security threat."

Yatim noted that "the numbers are estimated in the hundreds, including colonels and non-commissioned officers, many of whom have moved to Lebanon under the protection of political parties and with security blind eyes."

He added that they "form effective networks, collaborating with local parties, and are under protection, with suspicions of their involvement in the massacres on the Syrian coast last March, as they contributed to planning and leading certain insurgent operations targeting civilians, undermining the country's stability."

He warned that these individuals represent a "double danger" to both Lebanon and Syria.

He emphasized that the remnants of the overthrown Syrian regime "pose a threat to relations with friendly countries like Syria, and they could be used to incite strife within Lebanon."

He pointed out that their "political activities also include securing funding and resources for themselves within Lebanon, with the potential to turn at any moment into a threat to Lebanese security."

Yatim stated that "most of them are involved in war crimes, and some are wanted by the Syrian and French judiciary; making their presence in Lebanon dangerous and exposing the country to potential mercenary risks."

Regarding what he described as the "slow official handling" of the file, the political activist said, "We have not yet seen seriousness in addressing the issue, neither politically nor security-wise, as the raids do not match the size of the threat and the available information about them."

Concerning security cooperation between Lebanon and Syria, Yatim emphasized that "this file requires daily and effective cooperation between the security agencies in the two countries to control the borders and monitor the movements of these cells."

He stressed that "any planning for operations inside Syria could extend its impact to Lebanon, which could raise new complications in the relations between the two countries."

No Information

For his part, journalist specializing in judicial affairs, يوسف دياب, stated that there is no information available to the Lebanese security agencies about the presence of individuals from the remnants of the former Syrian regime wanted on Lebanese territory, despite the widespread discussion of the issue in local media.

Diab mentioned that "the Lebanese state has not received from the Syrian authorities a list of names of these alleged individuals, and the Lebanese security agencies have not obtained any information indicating the existence of Syrians planning security operations against their government inside Lebanon."

He added, "The agencies are working within the framework of preventive security to monitor any information about these individuals, but so far no evidence of their existence has been found."

He noted that "the news about training camps in areas like Hermel and Al-Haysa in Akkar is not accurate, and the Lebanese army is monitoring regularly, without recording any presence of armed individuals or training activities on Lebanese territory."

Diab confirmed that "the Lebanese state continues to maintain security vigilance and follows the issue continuously."

He referred to a "memo from the United States through Interpol regarding the former Syrian regime's National Security Office chief, Ali Mamlouk, and former Air Intelligence director, Jamil Hassan, accused of systematic torture and execution processes, to verify their presence on Lebanese territory."

He spoke about a legal commission, which is a task assigned to one judicial or administrative authority by another to perform actions like investigation, sent from the French authorities concerning "a number of Syrian officers accused of killing French individuals in Damascus before the fall of Assad's regime."

In December, the American newspaper "New York Times" mentioned that the heads of the overthrown Syrian regime continue to live in hiding both inside and outside the country, with some of them continuing to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, while others face difficult living conditions.

Diab affirmed that "the Lebanese security agencies are investigating these files, but so far no trace of these individuals has been found, whether concerning the American memo or the French commission."

He concluded by emphasizing that what is circulated about the existence of training camps and armed individuals on Lebanese territory is "not true, and no hostile activity or threat against Syria has been recorded from Syrian officers within Lebanon."

The Official Lebanese Position

During the Cabinet session held last Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed that "his country will not be a launchpad for any hostile actions against Syria," without providing further details.

In response to a question about reports of the presence of officers from Assad's regime in Lebanon, Aoun stated in a television interview on Sunday, that "there are no such officers as claimed in one of the television stations; rather, there are refugees, and lower-ranked Alawite military personnel and officers who do not have any significant impact."

He added that "the Lebanese army, the intelligence directorate, and security agencies have raided camps in Hermel and areas where Syrians are located in the north, without finding any evidence of what has been said."

President Aoun confirmed the existence of "communication and coordination" with the Syrian state regarding this issue.

On Friday, Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Tarek Mitri expressed his concern regarding media discussions about the movements of supporters of the former Syrian regime, calling on the security agencies to verify the accuracy of the information.

Mitri noted via his platform on "X" that "responsibility does not fall on the security agencies alone, but includes everyone, to avert the risks of any actions that may harm the unity of Syria or threaten its security and stability, whether in Lebanon or from Lebanon."

He added that "cooperation with the Syrian authorities should be strengthened based on trust and mutual respect."

The Syrian administration is making intensive efforts to ensure security and maintain control as part of its plans to recover from the devastating war's repercussions, reconstruction, stabilization, and advancing the country.