It’s change and change again in the Middle East after the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was deposed by rebels – but what will the UK do now Israel has attacked Syria?
Keir Starmer’s government has softened its stance on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel organisation that has taken control of Syria from Assad’s administration. It was proscribed as an alias of al-Qaeda in 2017, meaning the UK cannot have any communication with that organisation.
But this will make diplomacy very difficult, and Starmer has also – just – announced £11 million of humanitarian aid for Syria.
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Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden has suggested that HTS may be removed from the terror list, but Starmer has said it is still far too early to consider doing this.
It seems the UK is trying to look in two different directions at once.
Also looking in two different directions at once, it seems, is Israel, whose Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a major bombing offensive on Damascus, hours after welcoming the fall of the Assad regime.
Airstrikes targeted fuel and weapons stores and security facilities while targeting – according to the BBC – “defence facilities”. I put those words in quotation marks because it seems some of the 300 strikes also attacked residential areas.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has admitted that Israel is operating in Syria, claiming that his country is creating a “sterile defence zone” in that neighbouring country. This is, of course, illegal according to international law.
It joins a multitude of other (alleged) war crimes committed by Israel on what are now four fronts – Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria – while it continues to seize other nations’ territory.
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What will the UK do now Israel has attacked Syria?
It’s change and change again in the Middle East after the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was deposed by rebels – but what will the UK do now Israel has attacked Syria?
Keir Starmer’s government has softened its stance on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel organisation that has taken control of Syria from Assad’s administration. It was proscribed as an alias of al-Qaeda in 2017, meaning the UK cannot have any communication with that organisation.
But this will make diplomacy very difficult, and Starmer has also – just – announced £11 million of humanitarian aid for Syria.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden has suggested that HTS may be removed from the terror list, but Starmer has said it is still far too early to consider doing this.
It seems the UK is trying to look in two different directions at once.
Also looking in two different directions at once, it seems, is Israel, whose Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a major bombing offensive on Damascus, hours after welcoming the fall of the Assad regime.
Airstrikes targeted fuel and weapons stores and security facilities while targeting – according to the BBC – “defence facilities”. I put those words in quotation marks because it seems some of the 300 strikes also attacked residential areas.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has admitted that Israel is operating in Syria, claiming that his country is creating a “sterile defence zone” in that neighbouring country. This is, of course, illegal according to international law.
It joins a multitude of other (alleged) war crimes committed by Israel on what are now four fronts – Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria – while it continues to seize other nations’ territory.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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