A Hezbollah-linked terror cell attempted to assassinate Chief Rabbi of Damascus Michael Khouri in April 2026, in what appears to have been a calculated effort to destabilize Syria during a sensitive political transition.
According to emerging details, the planned attack was foiled by Syrian security forces before it could be carried out.
The failed plot reflects multiple strategic goals attributed to Hezbollah. First, the attack was intended to undermine internal stability in Syria at a time when the new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa is consolidating control.
By targeting a prominent Jewish religious figure in a Christian neighborhood (Bab Touma), the group likely sought to inflame sectarian tensions and create internal unrest.