Western diplomatic sources in Lebanon told Syria TV that Kamal al-Hassan, former head of Syria’s Military Intelligence under the ousted Assad regime, and Assad-linked businessman known as Abu Ali Khatr, carried out a secret visit to Israel in early December. According to the sources, the two met with officials from Israel’s internal security service.

The talks reportedly focused on requests for Israeli support in Syria’s coastal regions, alongside proposals related to managing the security situation there. The sources added that Moscow has recently reduced its level of commitment to providing protection or political cover for some initiatives being advanced by remnants of the former regime following its collapse, even as Damascus under Ahmed al-Sharaa has moved closer to Russia.

A “PROJECT TO SEPARATE COAST FROM DAMASCUS”