Former Syrian VP Reveals Final Warnings to Rafik Hariri Before Assassination

The memoirs, edited and presented by Ibrahim Hamidi, the editor-in-chief of Al-Majalla magazine, are scheduled for publication by Dar Raaf in September. The text documents the final weeks of Hariri’s life, detailing high-level warnings from Damascus and mounting political tensions in Beirut.

Accusations at the Presidential Palace

According to Khaddam’s account, tensions escalated in January 2005 during a meeting of the regional leadership of the ruling Baath Party at the presidential palace in Damascus. While discussing organizational matters, Bashar Assad told party members that there is an American-French conspiracy against Syria, and Rafik Hariri is involved in it, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Ghad.

Khaddam noted that he and other members of the leadership were surprised by the serious accusation. Two days later, Khaddam sent a verbal message through former Lebanese Defense Minister Mohsen Dalloul, warning Hariri that his standing had become complicated and urging him to leave Lebanon immediately.

The Final Meeting in Beirut

During the meeting, Hariri appeared anxious and asked about the message delivered by Dalloul.

Khaddam explained the gravity of the situation and repeated his advice to leave the country. Hariri rejected the suggestion, responding, I have elections… how can I leave the people and depart? Khaddam countered by telling him, Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections.

The memoirs record two specific details from that luncheon. First, Hariri mentioned that Awni al-Kaaki, owner of Al-Sharq newspaper, had told him Maher Assad wanted to build a relationship with him, was willing to resolve disputes with the Syrian president, and viewed Hariri as a loyal friend of Syria. Khaddam advised Hariri to remain cautious and leave Lebanon.

Second, when asked about his security detail, Hariri stated, I had fifty security guards; they withdrew them and kept only six guards.

The Assassination and Official Reaction

Six days after that meeting, on February 14, 2005, Khaddam was attending a Baath Party leadership meeting in Damascus. He saw a breaking news bulletin on a television in a colleague’s office reporting a large explosion in Beirut near the British Bank, which was later confirmed to have targeted Hariri’s motorcade, killing him alongside his guards and several citizens.

Khaddam stated in his memoirs that he informed the presidency of his intention to travel to Beirut to offer condolences, but received a response through the president’s office manager stating, If you want to go, go in your personal capacity. Khaddam traveled to Beirut with his wife and two sons, while the Syrian regime boycotted the funeral and mourning gatherings.

Official Syrian newspapers covered the event with the headline Large Explosion in Beirut, omitting Hariri’s name from the front page and mentioning only in the body of the text that he was among the victims—a detail Khaddam wrote increased the accusation against Bashar Assad.