Newly released documents obtained by Al Jazeera indicate that a planned attack on Syria’s coast, led by businessman Ramy Makhlouf and military figures Suhail al-Hassan and Ghiath Dalla, extends beyond Syria and involves the use of Lebanese territory. The documents suggest that at least 11 Syrian officers from the Assad era are currently operating in Lebanon.

Al Jazeera published the second report in a series of leaks from officers loyal to Bashar al-Assad, including documents and audio recordings. The materials outline the organizational structure of the groups, their personnel, weapons, funding channels, and the locations of key leaders. 

The documents indicate that Ghiath Dalla, former commander of Syria’s 42nd Brigade, is believed to be in Lebanon. They also identify 20 former pilots from the Assad regime under Major General Mahmoud Hassouri, residing with their families in a Lebanese hotel.

Former head of Syria’s special forces, Suhail al-Hassan, has reportedly established a large operations office in Al-Hisah, a Lebanese town on the northwestern border with Syria. The documents describe the office as “the command center for military operations against the Syrian government.”

The planned operation will not rely solely on Syrians. Lebanese national Mahmoud al-Salman is expected to join the operation and lead one of the groups. According to the report, al-Salman “participated in the previous uprising” against the Syrian government on the coast last spring.

The Al Jazeera report cites additional intelligence. Lebanese judicial journalist Youssef Diab noted that Syrian authorities provided Lebanon with a list of 200 officers from the Assad era allegedly present in Lebanon, although Lebanese authorities deny any Assad loyalists are in the country.

Diab also cited a U.S. security document requesting Lebanese authorities to arrest Major Generals Jamil al-Hassan and Ali Mamlouk if found on Lebanese soil. The notice was reportedly sent two weeks after Bashar al-Assad’s fall.

A French judicial request received last month indicated that 11 officers, including Mamlouk, al-Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud, are present in Lebanon.

The leaked materials show the hierarchy of Makhlouf’s group. Suhail al-Hassan, commander of elite forces, is second only to Makhlouf, Assad’s cousin and businessman. Ghiath Dalla follows, with second-tier leaders including Ali Mehna (finance), Saleh al-Abdallah (military affairs), and Ali al-Eid (coordination between groups).

Handwritten notes by al-Hassan, signed as commander of the army and armed forces, list the number of fighters from remnants of the former regime, providing a detailed accounting of personnel and forces.

Al-Hassan’s documents estimate 168,000 officers and soldiers operating in multiple sectors, including Homs city and countryside, the Al-Ghab region, eastern Hama, Jableh, Bayt Yashut, Sharashir, Qardaha, and Damascus.

Groups include the “Ahmed Sighati” unit in Masyaf, Latakia, and Tartus, with roughly 10,000 fighters; the “Homs Group” led by Akram al-Souqi under Dalla, also 10,000; the Salhab Group led by Captain Yaarub Shaaban, 8,410 fighters; and the Wael Mohammed Group in Homs, 6,800 fighters.

Sources note a dispute between Makhlouf and al-Hassan, reportedly over inflated troop numbers intended to secure greater funding.

The documents also detail the weapons arsenal, including artillery, anti-tank missiles, rifles, and RPGs.

Financial records obtained from Ahmad Dunya, accountant for al-Hassan and Makhlouf, indicate that group funding is distributed via salaries to fighters and commanders in the coastal region. Leaders, including Dalla, also receive personal cash allocations.