Special Security Report | Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Libi: From a Leader in Hurras al-Din to Targeting the Damascus–Homs Highway

The targeting of a car on the international road linking Damascus and Homs, in the vicinity of the Al-Qastal area near Qara in the Damascus countryside, has brought to light the file of former leaders in jihadist organizations linked to Al-Qaeda, following reports that three people were killed in the incident, including Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Libi, who is described as one of the former military leaders in the Guardians of Religion organization.

## Background and organizational path

Abu Abdul Rahman al-Libi is known for his previous association with the Guardians of Religion organization, which appeared in Syria in 2018 as an organization linked to Al-Qaeda, and included figures who refused to disengage from the organizational link that the Al-Nusra Front later turned to. Media reports indicate that he had field experience in the Syrian arena, but the details of his chain of command and precise responsibilities still require independent documentation.

In January 2025, Hurras al-Din announced its dissolution, at a time that witnessed major transformations in the Syrian scene following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. However, the dissolution of the organization did not necessarily end the security files related to its former members, especially the figures who remained of interest to those concerned with combating organizations linked to al-Qaeda.

## Previous targeting attempt

In February 2025, a car was targeted on the Orem al-Joz road in the Idlib countryside in a raid attributed to the United States. Reports indicated that Fadlallah al-Libi was killed in the incident, while later accounts indicated that Abu Abdul Rahman al-Libi survived. This incident highlights the importance of verifying the identity of the targets and distinguishing between initial information and subsequent confirmations when dealing with news of assassinations.

## Details of recent targeting

According to Syrian and international media reports, the last targeting occurred on October 26, 2026 on the Damascus-Homs international road, near the Al-Qastal area in the vicinity of Qara in the Damascus countryside. Three people were reportedly killed inside the targeted car, while Agence France-Presse quoted a source in the Syrian Ministry of Defense as saying that Abu Abdul Rahman al-Libi was among the dead.

Media accounts spoke of the use of a drone, but the implementing party has not been determined independently. Therefore, the attribution of the operation to the US-led international coalition remains uncertain unless an official announcement is made or reliable evidence appears to support this attribution.

## The security and political dimension

The incident gains its importance because it occurred on a strategic axis linking the Syrian capital to the center and north of the country, far from the traditional areas of activity of the Guardians of Religion organization in northwestern Syria. This may raise questions about the movements of figures associated with previous organizations, and the extent to which they will continue to be pursued after the political and security transformations that the country has witnessed.

Reports also circulated information indicating that Abu Abdul Rahman al-Libi held a position within the General Security Service after the dissolution of Guardians of Religion. This information remains attributed to media sources, and there is not sufficient independent evidence available to determine the nature of the position or its responsibilities. If proven, it would open the door to discussion about mechanisms for checking the organizational backgrounds of individuals who have moved to new security institutions, without this meaning proof of the existence of an institutional infiltration or an illicit security connection.

On the other hand, the success of targeting a moving car, if this story is proven, is not sufficient alone to prove a high-level intelligence penetration; This conclusion requires additional information about the implementing agency, the nature of previous monitoring of the operation, and the evidence on which the target setting was based.

## Security assessment

If the identity of the target and the circumstances surrounding his death are confirmed, the incident reflects the continued sensitivity of the file of former leaders in organizations linked to Al-Qaeda inside Syria. It also highlights the importance of following up on the fate of the elements that were active within these organizations, and the paths of their transition after their dissolution, in light of the restructuring of security institutions and the changing balance of power.

However, three main files remain to be resolved: final confirmation of the identity of all those killed, determining the party responsible for the targeting, and verifying information related to the recent security situation of Abu Abdul Rahman al-Libi. Until independent evidence is available on these issues, some details of the incident should be treated as primary information or attributed to their sources.





*Prepared by: Security Affairs and Strategic Analysis Department.*