Exiled Al-Assad Insiders in Moscow Allegedly Fund Alawite Militias to Spark Coastal Uprisings, Reuters Says

Exiled Regime Figures Accused Of Financing Militias From Moscow

A Reuters investigation says former close associates of deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad are channeling millions of dollars from Moscow to tens of thousands of potential fighters in an effort to provoke uprisings against Syria’s new government.

The probe, based on interviews with 48 people and financial records reviewed by Reuters, comes as Syria marks one year since al-Assad’s overthrow and as President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration gains growing international recognition. The schemes, if true, risk reigniting sectarian violence during a fragile transition.

Two Principal Plotters

According to the report, Major-General Kamal Hassan—formerly head of military intelligence—and billionaire cousin Rami Makhlouf are competing from exile in Moscow to recruit and fund militias among Syria’s Alawite community, long associated with the fallen regime. Reuters says allied factions together appear to be backing more than 50,000 fighters.

Photos and documents reviewed by Reuters reportedly show a network of 14 underground command centers on the coastal region and caches stocked with assault rifles, ammunition, grenades, computers and communications equipment.

Claims, Payments And Ground Realities

Internal financial records and documents examined by Reuters indicate Hassan claims authority over roughly 12,000 fighters and has disbursed about $1.5 million since March, while Makhlouf claims at least 54,000 fighters and roughly $6 million in salary payments. Commanders on the ground, however, told Reuters many fighters receive only $20–$30 per month and often accept payments from multiple patrons.

“Be patient, my people, and don’t surrender your arms. I am the one who will restore your dignity,” a WhatsApp message attributed to Hassan said, according to Reuters.

Obstacles To A Large-Scale Revolt

Despite the purported funding, Reuters found several factors that reduce the likelihood of a successful uprising: deep rivalry between the two exiles, mistrust of both figures among many Alawites, and an absence of active Russian backing. Moscow— which granted asylum to al-Assad—has reportedly been courting President al-Sharaa’s government to protect its Mediterranean bases in Tartous, the same coastal area implicated in the plot.

Government Response

Syrian authorities are said to be mounting a counter-strategy. Khaled al-Ahmad, an Alawite who switched sides during the war and is a childhood friend of President al-Sharaa, has been tasked with persuading former soldiers and civilians to support the new government. Ahmed al-Shami, governor of Tartous, told Reuters that officials are aware of the plans and prepared to confront them: “We are certain they cannot do anything effective, given their lack of strong tools on the ground.”

Context And Risks

The revelations come as Syria confronts multiple challenges one year after al-Assad’s ouster, including renewed sectarian clashes, ongoing Israeli strikes, regional security demands, and the new government’s efforts to secure international legitimacy. This week’s visit by a UN Security Council delegation—its first—was cited as a sign of President al-Sharaa’s growing standing.

Note: The account above summarizes the findings attributed to Reuters and reflects reported claims, photographic evidence and interviews reviewed by that news agency. Some figures and assertions remain contested by local commanders and authorities.