Khabarni – Syrian and Arab media outlets recently reported the death of Farouk al-Sharaa, the former vice president and foreign minister of the Syrian regime, following an illness. Despite these reports, there has been no official statement confirming his death, and many local platforms have denied the widely circulated news on social media.
Numerous platforms have shared news about al-Sharaa’s death. However, the Syrian regime has not issued any statement regarding this matter, and official media sources have not confirmed the circulating rumors.
Syria TV, an opposition website, cited sources described as “private” that claimed Farouk al-Sharaa is still alive, and that the reports of his death are false.
The rumors about al-Sharaa’s death emerged a few weeks after the death of Luna al-Shibl, a media advisor to Bashar al-Assad, following a car accident near Damascus. Local media and Syrian opposition figures have suggested that al-Shibl’s death might have been an assassination related to the discovery of a foreign intelligence network involving individuals close to her.
Luna al-Shibl was known for supporting the Syrian regime’s narrative about the Syrian revolution and the ensuing bloody war. The United States and Britain had placed her on their sanctions list due to her support for Bashar al-Assad.
Who is Farouk al-Sharaa?
Farouk al-Sharaa is one of the most prominent politicians and diplomats in the Syrian regime, having served under both Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad. Born in Daraa in 1938, al-Sharaa was educated in Damascus and later studied law in London. He held the position of Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1984 to 2006 and served as Vice President of the Republic from 2006 to 2014.
During his tenure as Foreign Minister and Vice President, Syria underwent several critical periods, most notably the Syrian revolution that began in 2011 and escalated into a bloody war due to the regime’s brutal repression.
Al-Sharaa is known for a statement he made to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, in which he remarked, “At the beginning of the events [the Syrian revolution], the authorities were begging to see a single gunman or sniper on the roofs of one of the buildings.”
Unresolved Questions
The conflicting reports and absence of official statements about Farouk al-Sharaa’s death highlight the opacity and control over information within the Syrian regime. As the situation unfolds, it remains uncertain whether al-Sharaa has indeed passed away or if the rumors are another layer in the complex narrative of Syrian politics.
Farouk al-Sharaa’s legacy is deeply entwined with the tumultuous history of Syria over the past few decades. His long career in the government, through both the Hafez and Bashar al-Assad regimes, makes him a significant figure in understanding the political landscape of the country. His potential death, whether confirmed or not, marks an important moment for those following Syrian politics and the ongoing conflict within the nation.
