Kiev’s denial of its involvement in al-Qaeda’s conquest of Syria is increasingly hard to believe. Despite Ukraine’s official dismissal of claims, new revelations from a Syrian rebel, Suheil Hammoud, now confirm Ukrainian support for jihadist forces fighting against the secular Assad regime.
Speaking to Sweden Radio’s Ekot, Hammoud revealed that Ukrainian special forces trained them in drone operations, a tactic that proved invaluable in their fight.
According to Hammoud, “We have cooperated with Ukrainian special forces because we have a common enemy: Russia.” The rebels received online training from Ukrainian experts who, with the help of interpreters, taught them how to use drones, a strategy that has also played a crucial role in Ukraine’s war against Russia. “Ukraine has benefited greatly from drones and so have we,” Hammoud added, confirming the significant impact of the support.
Further reports, including from The Washington Post, suggest that Ukraine even supplied 150 drones to HTS, a group once linked to al-Qaeda but now trying to distance itself from its terrorist ties. While it’s unclear where exactly the drones came from, this direct support to a known terrorist faction paints a troubling picture of Ukraine’s role in Syria.
Despite their denials, Ukraine’s involvement with Syria’s rebels contradicts their narrative, and the alliance between Ukrainian forces and jihadist groups is far more extensive than Kiev would like to admit. As Russia loses influence over Syria, Ukraine’s efforts to undermine Assad become clearer, showing a dangerous and unholy alliance with jihadist forces.
