Who Wants to Assassinate Syrian President Ahmed Shar'a? U.S. Issues a Warning!

 

The U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Tom Barrack, has expressed concerns that Syrian leader Ahmed Shar'a’s efforts to promote inclusive governance and engage with the West might make him a target for assassination by disgruntled extremists.  

In a historic meeting with the American president Trump on April 14, the Syrian President invited American companies to invest in Syria, following a U.S. commitment to lift sanctions—a move encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince and Turkish President Erdoğan Qatar's Emir. He assured that Syria would not be a destabilizing force in the region, nor a launching ground for attacks on neighboring countries.  

However, ISIS has called on fighters loyal to Shar'a to defect and fight against him, accusing him of failing to implement Islamic law since taking power. On May 30, ISIS operatives attacked a Syrian army vehicle in Suwayda province, killing one soldier and injuring three from the 70th Division.  

Barrack, in an interview with *Al-Monitor*, described Shar'a as "intelligent, confident, and focused", emphasizing that U.S. interests aligned with his success in building an inclusive and efficient society. He warned that "delays in economic relief for Syria could lead to fragmented groups seizing the opportunity to disrupt stability."  

According to **Reuters**, Washington has approved the integration of around 3,000 foreign jihadist fighters—mostly Chinese Uyghurs—into Syria’s new military division, the 84th Brigade, as of May 2. 

Barrack dismissed claims that U.S. sanctions relief was tied to any conditions, contrary to arguments made by some officials in the Trump administration. Instead of imposing demands, the expectation was that Shar'a would continue implementing key priorities outlined by Trump, including cracking down on Palestinian militants, working toward Syria’s eventual inclusion in the Abraham Accords, and countering ISIS resurgence.  

On May 8, the U.S. Congress officially removed Syria from its list of rogue states, and American media reports suggest President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order lifting sanctions imposed since 1979.  

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is withdrawing from north eastern Syria, encouraging the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to merge with the country’s new government following an agreement between Shar'a and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi on March 10.  

Barrack reaffirmed that Syria’s survival depends on eliminating armed, non-state factions fighting within its territory. He urged Syrians to take initiative, stating: "Do you want to build your nation? Take the lead! We’re simply removing barriers that hinder good ideas and capable people from contributing."

 

Moumin Sawady