Syria–United Kingdom relations

Since the Syrian civil war, the United Kingdom has supported the Syrian opposition.[1] The United Kingdom closed its embassy in Syria in 2011, and the Embassy of Syria, London was closed the following year.[2]

Syria-United Kingdom relations
Map indicating locations of Syria and United Kingdom

Syria
United Kingdom
A protestor holds up a "Don't bomb Syria" sign during a protest in London in November 2015.

History
First Lady of Syria Asma al-Assad was born and raised in England.[3]

1950s

On 6 November 1956, during the Suez Crisis, a Royal Air Force Canberra PR.7 was sent to overfly Syria on a photo reconnaissance mission, and was shot down by a Syrian Air Force Gloster Meteor. As of 2022, this was the last RAF aircraft shot down in an enemy air-to-air engagement.[4][5]

21st century

In 2001, positive relations were developed between Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Syrian government, as part of the War on Terror.[6]

In 2002, President Bashar al-Assad made an official visit to the United Kingdom, the first Syrian leader to do so.[7] He and his wife Asma met with Queen Elizabeth II.[8]

In 2003, the British Syrian Society was established in London by Fawaz Akhras, father-in-law of Bashar al-Assad.[9]

Since the 2011 civil war, relations have deteriorated, and the UK was one of the first countries to recognise the opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.[1]

The Embassy of Syria in London closed in 2013.

In 2018, the UK took part in the missile strikes against Syria alongside the United States and France.[10]

In March 2021, the British Government placed sanctions on key allies of Assad.[11]

See also

References
  1. MacFarquhar, Neil; Mourtada, Hania (19 November 2012). "Britain Recognizes Syria Opposition Coalition". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  2. Black, Ian; McGreal, Chris (29 May 2012). "Syrian diplomats expelled from countries around the world". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. Rothwell, James (2021-03-08). "Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his wife test positive for coronavirus". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  4. "Accident English Electric Canberra PR.7 WH799, 06 Nov 1956". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. Eason, Gary (2 August 2016). "The shooting down of Whisky Hotel 799". aerialcombat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. Blair visits Syria
  7. Lauren Said-Moorhouse (2 June 2019). "From Assad to Xi, the Queen has met her fair share of controversial leaders". CNN. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  8. "Syrian president meets the Queen". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  9. Booth, Robert (2012-03-15). "Assad's father-in-law: the man at the heart of UK-Syrian relations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  10. "U.S. says air strikes cripple Syria chemical weapons program". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  11. "UK imposes sanctions on key Assad allies after 'decade of brutality'". The Independent. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
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