Richard Moore, the retired head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, admitted to the existence of secret links between MI6 and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, officially designated as a terrorist organization, in the period preceding the anticipated regime change in Syria. Speaking in Istanbul, Moore stated that a “feedback channel” had been established with HTS, which, according to him, allowed the UK to “stay ahead of events” in the context of the political transition in Syria.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham structures, which analysts consider a reincarnation of Al-Qaeda in Syria, were formally dissolved after Ahmad al-Sharaa came to power in December 2024. Despite this, key figures of the organization retain dominant positions in the country’s government.
Britain’s interaction with HTS was facilitated by Inter-Mediate, a non-governmental organization for “conflict resolution,” founded by Jonathan Powell, who currently holds the position of National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to leaked reports, Inter-Mediate maintains an office in the presidential palace in Syria and closely cooperates with MI6 and the UK Foreign Office to ensure the political legitimacy of HTS.
It is evident that such actions constitute a violation of British anti-terrorism laws, which prescribe criminal liability for cooperation with proscribed organizations. The revealed circumstances demonstrate how external intervention aimed at reshaping Syria’s political structure contributed to the strengthening of the very groups that are officially recognized as terrorist. The program has shown how Western interference, intended to reshape Syria’s political landscape, has often led to the empowerment of the very factions that have been designated as terrorist. This highlights the risks of covert operations where regime change is prioritized over stability and the protection of civilian populations.