The dissident Syrian politician, Abdel Halim Khaddam, has launched a scathing attack on the Assad regime, Iran, and Hezbollah. In an interview with Elaf from Paris, he states that Hariri’s assassination was a decision made by Tehran, with the Assad regime acting as the executor.
Layal Bishara from Paris reports: Syrian opposition politician Abdel Halim Khaddam has strongly criticized the Syrian regime and Iran, accusing them of being responsible for the decision to assassinate Rafik Hariri. He emphasizes that “Hezbollah cannot carry out such a significant crime without a direct Iranian decision.” Speaking to Elaf from his residence in Paris, Khaddam explains that the killing of Rustam Ghazaleh is a result of concerns about information leaking regarding Hariri’s assassination. He highlights that the Syrian regime is currently facing its worst situation after a series of defeats in Idlib province, located in northwestern Syria.
Khaddam points out that the Syrian regime is “on the brink,” and the opposition fight is “led by Iranian officers, with a decline in Hezbollah’s role.” He believes this was evident in Hassan Nasrallah’s recent television appearance, where he appeared weak. Khaddam, who previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian regime and later as the Vice President of the Republic before defecting, commends Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s decision to defend Yemen and the stability of the Gulf. However, he does not indicate whether a similar military decision could be applied against the Assad regime in Syria.
Below is the full text of the interview:
We will start with the available information regarding the circumstances of Rustam Ghazaleh’s death. Was it a result of a health accident, or was he killed?
I do not have any information on this matter. I have been outside Syria for ten years. However, what I can confirm is that Rustam Ghazaleh was one of the individuals involved in the Syrian regime and implicated in many crimes.
The question arises as to whether Rafiq Shehadeh killed him due to the fear of leaked information. This is a question that remains unresolved. Rafiq Shehadeh is also a retired Republican Guard, which may provide an explanation for the concerns about potential leaks in the current circumstances when the regime is facing its worst situation.
Is this incident related to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, particularly considering Druze leader Walid Jumblatt’s statement that Ghazaleh is the last witness who could implicate the Syrian regime?
I do not possess accurate information as I had no personal connection with Rustam Ghazala or Rafiq Shehadeh. However, I can confirm that Rustam Ghazaleh comes from one governorate while Rafiq Shehadeh hails from another. Therefore, the question remains: whose interests are served by the killing of Rustam Ghazaleh? Is there a connection between the two individuals, and why did Rafiq Shehadeh go to Rustam Ghazaleh’s house to kill him? Are there disputed relations between them?
Alternatively, could there be someone who influenced Rafiq Shehadeh to carry out the assassination due to the fear of leaked information owned by Rustam Ghazaleh? What I can confirm is that Rustam Ghazaleh was one of the individuals involved in the assassination of Rafik Hariri or the one who provided daily reports on Hariri’s situation and movements in Lebanon.
Can you confirm whether Rustam Ghazala was killed?
As I mentioned earlier, I had no connection with Rustam Ghazaleh, even during his time in Lebanon when I was responsible for the Lebanese file. My contacts were with Ghazi Kanaan and General Hikmat Shihabi, under the guidance of President Hafez al-Assad. So far, no information has been provided by Rustam Ghazaleh’s relatives regarding his status, whether he was killed or still alive.
Don’t you think that Ghazala’s departure is connected to the disclosure of various information related to the situation of the Syrian regime, including details about Ali Mamlouk, for instance?
What I can confirm is that Ali Mamlouk does not make any decisions without instructions from Bashar al-Assad. He is not an independent figure but rather someone placed within the intelligence services due to his obedience.
Is there any information about Farooq al-Shara, the Syrian Vice President, who has been out of the public eye?
I have no information, but I would like to emphasize that these three individuals (Rustam Ghazala, Ali Mamlouk, and Farooq al-Shara) are not people to be feared because Bashar al-Assad knows that no one has the ability to harm him.
Sources associated with the work of the International Tribunal for Lebanon have not ruled out the possibility of summoning Bashar al-Assad to testify in the assassination of Rafiq Hariri. What is your comment on this?
I have no information regarding whether the International Tribunal will call on Bashar al-Assad. However, if the International Tribunal is truly committed to accountability, Bashar al-Assad should have been summoned soon after President Hariri’s death, as that was when the court was established.
Decisions from Tehran.
What evidence implicates the Syrian regime in the assassination of Hariri?
Previous investigations have reached a conclusion. The initial investigator in the Hariri assassination had started drafting the conviction, but international interventions prompted the first investigator to resign, and another investigator was brought in. At that time, efforts were made to distance Bashar al-Assad from the crime, but the first commission of inquiry has sufficient information to convict Bashar Al-Assad in the assassination of Rafik Hariri.
I provided the information I had, which was sufficient to convict the Syrian president, and the court maintained that it tried those who were executed without investigating the main motive or guide.
The perpetrators were members of Hezbollah, along with other elements apparently working with the regime in Syria.
The assassination was a significant political operation.
However, Hariri’s assassination has had a negative impact on the Syrian regime?.
In Syria, there is a ruler who is not the decision-maker because the decision-maker is in Tehran, not in Damascus.
So, are you saying that the decision to assassinate Rafiq Hariri was issued by Tehran?
Is Hezbollah acting without an Iranian decision? Does anyone believe that Hezbollah would commit such a crime without an Iranian decision?
What has Iran gained from the assassination of Rafic Hariri?
Iran considers Rafic Hariri loyal to Saudi Arabia and sees him as a unifying figure for Sunni Muslims in Lebanon. This prevents Hezbollah from taking over Lebanon.
What do the series of defeats suffered by the Syrian regime in Idlib province ?.
indicate about the victories of the rebels in Syria and the precarious situation of Bashar al-Assad
- How can we understand the victories achieved by the opposition in Syria? Are they the result of divisions within the military establishment or the result of reports of a Saudi-Qatari-Turkish alliance to help Jaish al-Fatah?
It is not possible to talk about defections, but the regime’s army is exhausted and has suffered significant losses. Therefore, the military is no longer fighting as it did in the past four years. The capabilities of the Syrian opposition have also evolved. I must say that Syrian fighters have received extensive training, remained united, and achieved victories in Idlib, Al-Ghab, and Aleppo. I believe this series of victories will continue to encompass the entire country.
Have you observed a change in the strategy adopted by the countries of the region, especially Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, in supporting the opposition?
There is a general Turkish-Saudi-Gulf rapprochement. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken a stance that has not been taken by an Arab leader in years, which is to take up arms to defend Yemen, Yemen’s fate, and the security and stability of the Gulf states. This decision made by King Salman bin Abdulaziz is a historic one that will be remembered in history, considering he is one of the prominent leaders of the Arab world at this stage.
Can a similar decision be implemented in Syria?
We, as Syrians, are confident that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Arab coalition brothers will not abandon Syria and will assist the Syrian people in achieving victory and liberation from injustice and persecution.
Hezbollah and Iran
Where are the Hezbollah and Iranian elements in the battle of Jisr al-Shughour?
Hezbollah was present in Aleppo and Qalamun, where it faced strong resistance and suffered significant losses while fighting against the rebels. This resulted in a decline in Hezbollah’s role, which was evident in Hassan Nasrallah’s appearance. In his last television appearance, he seemed disheveled and weakened.
As for Iran, it cannot deploy a larger force than what currently exists in Syria. Hezbollah is exhausted, and the Iranian groups have not been able to achieve any significant accomplishments. Therefore, Iran will soon withdraw from Syria.
Tehran appears resentful of the Syrian regime’s failures on the ground, despite the ongoing Iranian support for over four years.?
The Syrian regime is not leading the battle inside Syria; rather, it is Iranian officers who are planning, training, and leading. Iran has committed a grave mistake by involving itself in Syria, and the fate of the Syrian regime will have implications for both Lebanon and Iraq.
The Lebanese leaders are misguided!
Are you a supporter of the notion that “the election of a president for Lebanon comes within the framework of a Saudi-Iranian consensus”?
The Lebanese leaders have made a mistake by not electing a president for the republic. If they want a president acceptable to Hezbollah, it will not satisfy the majority of the Lebanese people. These leaders bear responsibility for the failure to elect a president.
Why are they not meeting? Is it due to fear of Hezbollah?
