Turkey denies request to British intelligence To protect Syrian leader

Friday 06 March 2026 - 19:45

Reports suggesting that Turkey asked British intelligence to strengthen protection for Syria’s interim president have been firmly denied by Ankara, highlighting the complex security dynamics surrounding the country’s fragile political transition.

According to several sources familiar with the matter, Turkey’s intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Organization, allegedly contacted its British counterpart, the Secret Intelligence Service, last month to increase support in protecting Syrian leader Ahmed al‑Chareh following reports of assassination plots.

Turkish authorities quickly rejected the claim. In an official statement, the presidency in Ankara said that although Turkish intelligence maintains close cooperation with international partners and Syrian security forces in counter-terrorism operations, no such request had been made.

“Contrary to what has been reported, it is not true that our intelligence service asked the British service to assume any role in protecting the Syrian president,” the statement said.

Security concerns in a fragile Syria

The allegations come at a time when security concerns remain high in Syria, more than a year after the fall of former president Bashar al‑Assad. Despite the change in leadership, the country continues to face sporadic violence and lingering instability after more than a decade of conflict.

Western and regional allies have viewed interim president Ahmed al-Chareh as a key figure in preventing renewed sectarian violence and maintaining political order during the reconstruction phase. The war, which lasted more than fourteen years, displaced millions of Syrians and allowed extremist groups such as Islamic State to gain control over large territories.

Recent intelligence reports cited by international sources suggest that extremist networks and militant factions have intensified attacks against Syrian security forces and have identified Chareh as a major target.

Intelligence cooperation and counter-terrorism

Despite Ankara’s denial, security cooperation between Turkish and Syrian authorities has expanded in recent months. Officials in Damascus recently confirmed for the first time that Syrian services were working with Turkish intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks in the capital.

According to security sources, Turkish intelligence helped identify a suspected militant cell preparing remote bomb attacks, allowing Syrian authorities to intervene before an attack could take place.

Western diplomats monitoring the situation say international intelligence agencies are increasingly concerned about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State. Analysts believe intelligence sharing and technical coordination between regional and Western partners could intensify in the coming months.

However, sending foreign intelligence personnel to Syria would remain highly sensitive and risky due to the volatile security environment.

A contested political past

Ahmed al-Chareh himself remains a controversial figure in the region’s political landscape. Before becoming Syria’s interim president, he was once linked to insurgent movements during the civil war and later led a coalition of Islamist rebel factions that ultimately toppled Bashar al-Assad’s government.

As Syria navigates its uncertain transition, security threats, geopolitical rivalries and intelligence cooperation continue to shape the country’s fragile path toward stability.