Syrian rebels who seized power in Damascus received drones and other support from Ukrainian intelligence. The aid was part of Ukraine’s efforts to weaken the positions of Russia and its Syrian allies. About this informs The Washington Post
According to the publication’s sources, over the past four to five weeks, Ukrainian intelligence has sent about 20 experienced drone operators and about 150 unmanned aerial vehicles to the rebel headquarters in Idlib province. The main support came from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which is one of the leading rebel organizations in the region.
The message emphasizes that support from Ukraine played a relatively modest role in the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, this assistance is part of Kyiv’s broader strategy to strike back at Russian operations in the Middle East, Africa, and Russia itself.
Although the program of Ukrainian aid to Syrian rebels was known in diplomatic circles, senior officials of the Biden administration have repeatedly denied their knowledge of it. Ukraine’s motives are clear: in response to the Russian offensive on its territory, Ukrainian intelligence was looking for additional fronts where it could weaken Russia and its allies.
