Revealed: Israel’s covert communications with Syria’s Assad

In a newly uncovered intelligence dossier published by Israeli media outlet Yediot Ahronot, details have emerged about years-long covert communications between Israel and the regime of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad.

The efforts, led by Israeli intelligence operatives under the codename “Musa,” reportedly sought to prevent the transfer of arms to Hezbollah and reduce Iranian influence in southern Syria.

WhatsApp messages to top Syrian officials

According to the reports, Israeli intelligence operatives used WhatsApp to send direct messages to senior Syrian military and political figures, including Assad’s Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas.

These messages followed Israeli airstrikes in Syria and detailed the rationale behind the operations.

In one instance, “Musa” reportedly warned Syrian officials about the continued presence of Hezbollah commanders, emphasizing that Israel would not tolerate the group’s military buildup near its borders. The messages also referenced Iranian arms shipments arriving via Syria, often specifying aircraft numbers and cargo details.

The alleged reports are down below.

A strategic deal between Israel-Syria that never materialized

Beyond the encrypted messages, the intelligence files suggest broader diplomatic efforts were made to “strike a deal” with Assad.

The proposed agreement reportedly included easing international sanctions on Syria and providing regional legitimacy to Assad’s government in exchange for halting Hezbollah’s arms transfers and reducing Iranian military influence.

A high-profile meeting between former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and Assad was reportedly planned in Moscow, mediated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the meeting was canceled, and the initiative stalled as Syria’s internal situation changed.

Zoom out

• Regime opposition groups intensified clashes with Assad’s forces starting Nov. 27, eventually gaining control of major cities like Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Homs.
• By Dec. 8, the Assad regime had collapsed, losing control of Damascus and other regions as large segments of the population backed opposition groups.
• Assad fled to Russia, ending 61 years of Baath Party rule. A transitional government took over, appointing Mohammed al-Bashir as interim prime minister until March 2025.

Israel continues to occupy territories in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine and rejects calls to withdraw or recognize an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders.