Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

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.

Listen
  • x
  • 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.

Related News

Syria's al-Sharaa: Security deal with 'Israel' is a necessity

Israeli forces forcibly displacing residents of southern Syria: HRW

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

Most Read

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS