Turkey Sought UK Intelligence Assistance in Protecting Syrian President al-Sharaa

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) requested that Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) increase its role in protecting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa last month, following reported assassination plots. The request underscores concerns among Syria’s international backers regarding al-Sharaa’s safety and stability in the region.

Growing Concerns Over Al-Sharaa’s Security

According to five sources familiar with the matter, MIT asked MI6 to take on a larger role in safeguarding al-Sharaa after a series of alleged assassination attempts. The specifics of the request remain unclear, and it is unknown what new responsibilities, if any, MI6 has assumed Reuters reported.

The request highlights the efforts of foreign allies to stabilize Syria, which remains vulnerable to violence 15 months after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sharaa is viewed as critical to preventing a resurgence of sectarian conflict or civil war, following 14 years of conflict that created a massive refugee crisis and allowed the rise of Islamic State as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Islamic State Threat

Militants have recently increased attacks on military and security personnel across Syria, designating al-Sharaa as their “number one foe.” A Turkish source indicated that MIT sought additional support from MI6 after a specific incident last month, described by a senior Syrian security source as a “high-risk assassination plot” Turkish Minute.

Last year, al-Sharaa and two senior cabinet ministers were targeted in five foiled assassination attempts, according to the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. In November, Syrian authorities reportedly thwarted two such attempts Turkish Minute.

Turkey Denies Request

Despite reports, the Turkish presidency issued a statement asserting that MIT maintains effective cooperation with the international intelligence community in the fight against terrorism. However, the statement explicitly denied making any request to MI6 regarding the protection of the Syrian President or seeking to assume such a role Reuters.

International Support and Coordination

Turkey, Britain, and the US have backed al-Sharaa’s efforts to reunite and rebuild Syria, a country of 26 million people. London and Washington have also lifted most sanctions on Syria and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group al-Sharaa formerly led Turkish Minute.

Damascus recently acknowledged coordinating with MIT to foil an Islamic State attack in the capital, with Turkish security sources stating that MIT identified a team preparing remote bomb attacks, enabling Syrian authorities to intervene Turkiye Today.

A US diplomat briefed on the matter attributed MIT’s request to MI6 to the resurgence of Islamic State. A Western intelligence source suggested that Turkey may have sought a Western presence in Damascus to create a buffer between Turkish and Israeli agencies, which are currently at odds.