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BREAKING
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed

Declassified UK files reveal MI6 sought Assad's aid against Al Qaeda

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Declassified UK
  • 31 Dec 2024 21:25
3 Min Read

Despite numerous allegations of human rights violations against al-Assad, Western governments, including the UK, viewed his secular government as a potential partner in the fight against Al Qaeda during the early 2000s.

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  • This Thursday, March 5, 2015 file photo shows a general view of the MI6 building in London. (AP)
    This Thursday, March 5, 2015 file photo shows a general view of the MI6 building in London. (AP)

A new Declassified UK report revealed that in 2004, senior MI6 officials sought the assistance of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to curtail the flow of foreign jihadists entering Iraq.

These fighters, linked to Al Qaeda, were mounting attacks on US forces following the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Among them was Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, also known as Ahmad al-Sharaa, who later played a leading role in the war on Syria and the eventual overthrow of Assad.

British intelligence identified Syria as a key transit point for jihadists entering Iraq.

A declassified briefing note from April 2004 revealed the UK's strategy, stating, "Our primary concern remains the flow of terrorists into Iraq through Syria. We are pushing the Syrians hard to accept a visit from a team of senior officials from the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office], SIS [Secret Intelligence Service], and MOD [Ministry of Defence] to address this issue."

The document noted early signs of an emerging intelligence relationship that the UK hoped would yield results.

A request for collaboration

Former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw wrote to his Syrian counterpart, encouraging cooperation. However, it remains unclear whether Assad's government acted on these requests.

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Russia in talks over military bases in Syria with new government

Tensions ease in Sweida as all detainees released amid mediation

By 2005, the Foreign Office acknowledged Syria's role as the primary entry point for jihadists, adding that "the Syrians could do more to tackle this."

Despite numerous allegations of human rights violations against Assad, Western governments, including the UK, viewed his secular government as a potential partner in the fight against Al Qaeda during the early 2000s.

Intelligence-sharing arrangements extended to controversial practices, with countries like Syria, Libya, and Egypt used by Western agencies to detain and interrogate suspects.

Former CIA officer Robert Baer remarked in 2004, "If you want them to be tortured, you send them to Syria."

Jolani's rise

The revelations also shed light on Abu Mohammed al-Jolani's transformation. Initially fighting with Al Qaeda in Iraq, Jolani later formed the Nusra Front.

Over time, he rebranded his group as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which remains classified as a terrorist organization by the UK.

Despite this designation, recent British engagement with al-Jolani signals evolving counterterrorism priorities.

Al-Jolani now claims his group no longer supports international terrorism and instead focuses on governing areas in Syria.

Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia

These disclosures expose the changing priorities of UK foreign policy. While then-Prime Minister Tony Blair sought Assad's cooperation in 2004, the current Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has described Assad as a "butcher with the blood of countless innocents on his hands." 

On December 9, Senior British Minister Pat McFadden said that London may consider removing the proscribed status of HTS.
 
When asked if the British government would have to look again into the proscription of HTS, McFadden told Sky News, "We will consider that. And I think it will partly depend on what happens [next]."

  • Syria
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • Abu Mohammad al-Jolani
  • Al Qaeda
  • Bashar al-Assad
  • United Kingdom
  • Tony Blair
  • MI6

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