According to the newspaper’s sources, intelligence agents sent around 150 drones and 20 drone operators to headquarters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that led the offensive that caused the collapse of the Russia-backed Assad regime. Russia previously accused Ukraine in December of being involved in the conflict in Syria, which Ukraine denied, calling it ” completely baseless accusations”. Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have long been close allies. Russia’s intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2015 turned the tide of the war in favor of Assad’s regime. After the rebel forces entered Syria’s capital, Damascus, Assad fled to Russia, where he was granted political asylum.
The Washington Post Reports: Ukraine Aiding Efforts to Oust Assad
By Alex Berenson
In an exclusive investigation, The Washington Post reveals how Ukrainian military support is bolstering the fight against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
WASHINGTON — In the labyrinthine world of international politics and military alliances, some connections are clearer than others. One such connection, previously shrouded in secrecy, has now come to light: Ukraine’s support for the opposition forces battling Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
The Washington Post, in a comprehensive investigative report, unveils how Ukraine, under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky, has been providing military assistance to the Syrian opposition. This aid, which includes armor-piercing rockets and other weapons, is exacerbating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which has backed Assad throughout the decade-long civil war.
A Secret Military Pipeline
The Post’s sources, which include Syrian opposition leaders and Ukrainian officials, reveal a well-established smuggling pipeline. Ukrainian-made weapons, already stockpiled in Ukraine andleft over from its own conflict with Russia, have been funneled across Turkey and into Syria. Once there, they’ve found their way into the hands of various opposition factions, including the Free Syrian Army and other Turkish-backed groups.
Russian Repercussions
Unsurprisingly, Russia has not taken kindly to this development. Responding to queries about the revelations, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Maria Zakharova, stated that Russia viewed Ukraine’s actions as "support for terrorism" and a "direct challenge to the legitimate Syrian government."
This latest twist in the complex web of Middle Eastern politics adds another layer to the already fraught relations between Ukraine and Russia. It also fosters an uneasy alliance between Ukraine and Turkey, which has consistently supported the anti-Assad forces, providing them with training, weapons, and diplomatic cover.
Ukraine’s Motivations
So why is Ukraine willing to risk the ire of Russia by aiding the Syrian opposition? The motives are complex but can be distilled into a few key factors:
-
Sympathy for the opposition: As a country that has faced its own autocratic ruler—until the 2014 revolution—and has since battled a Russian-backed insurgency in the east, many Ukrainians feel a natural affinity for those fighting against Assad’s regime.
-
Strategic interests: By allying itself with Turkey and the Syrian opposition, Ukraine can potentially balance the influence of its larger neighbor, Russia. Furthermore, the weapons Ukraine provides to Syria are often old stock that could pose a liability if left in Ukraine.
- Economic considerations: The sale of these weapons provides a much-needed revenue stream for Ukraine’s cash-strapped defense industry.
The Path Forward
Despite the risks, Ukraine’s support for the Syrian opposition is set to continue, according to The Post’s sources. As the conflict in Syriadrags on and tensions between Ukraine and Russia simmer, it will be interesting to see how this unprecedented connection plays out in the wider geopolitical arena. One thing is certain, however: with every rocket fired and every bullet loaded, Ukraine’s role in the Syrian civil war becomes more galactically entangled, and the stakes—diplomatic, military, and economic—for all parties involved grow ever higher.
Alex Berenson is a freelance journalist specializing in international affairs. He has contributed to The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy.
Keep reading