Leaked intelligence documents show the Syrian regime extensively monitored armed revolutionary factions and Turkish military movements before the pivotal Repelling the Aggression campaign in late November 2024.
The documents, obtained by Al Jazeera’s Sanad Verification Agency, originate from the Assad regime’s Military Intelligence Branch in Aleppo. They reveal that intelligence officials had advanced knowledge of revolutionary attacks and tracked movements in liberated areas with accuracy.
Surveillance of Revolutionary and Turkish Forces
The documents, dated October and November 2024, detail how Assad’s intelligence followed the activities of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkish-backed factions. Reports include tracking military convoys, identifying strategic routes, and monitoring high-level meetings.
The regime’s surveillance extended beyond revolutionary groups. Intelligence officials also followed Turkish military convoys, recording troop movements and mapping supply routes. The reports suggest an advanced network capable of tracking forces from departure points to final destinations.
An intelligence map from Nov. 23, 2024, highlights key Turkish and revolutionary military movements across western Aleppo and Idlib. The ability to monitor these developments in real time suggests a deep security breach within the liberated areas.
Advanced Monitoring & Espionage
The scale of the surveillance suggests a combination of reconnaissance, signal intelligence, and human informants. Analysts note that in southern areas, convoys were visible from regime-held positions. However, in rugged northern terrain, intelligence gathering likely relied on sources inside revolutionary ranks.
By analyzing military routes, Assad’s intelligence identified key logistical hubs, particularly Atarib, a strategic town linking Turkish military bases to revolutionary frontlines. The ability to track convoys along fixed supply lines suggests an organized and sustained intelligence effort.
Monitoring HTS
The leaked documents also detail close surveillance of HTS, the dominant faction in northern Syria. Intelligence reports recorded meetings, weapons storage, and coordination efforts in at least 12 locations during early November 2024.
One report, titled “Preparations for militants to attack our forces,” describes faction leaders planning an offensive against regime positions. The timing, only two weeks before the battle, indicates the regime had prior knowledge of revolutionary plans.
Reports also mention the delivery of jamming devices and drone modifications inside liberated areas. This suggests Assad’s intelligence was monitoring not just troop movements but also technological preparations.
Tracking a Key Turkish-revolutionary Meeting
The leaks further reveal that Assad’s intelligence monitored a secret meeting in Gaziantep, Turkey, in October 2024. The meeting, attended by Turkish intelligence officers and revolutionary leaders, focused on plans for an offensive against regime forces.
According to the documents, Turkish officials informed revolutionary leaders they would not provide military support for the operation. The leaked intelligence aligns with a Reuters report stating that revolutionary factions believed Turkey had tacitly approved the attack but later received no assistance.
Intelligence Breach
The leaked documents raise questions about the depth of regime surveillance and its impact on revolutionary operations. While the full consequences remain unclear, the findings suggest that revolutionary factions faced significant intelligence risks in the lead-up to the battle. The extent of Assad’s intelligence infiltration remains unknown, but the leaks provide rare insight into the covert operations that shaped the final months of the Assad regime’s rule.
