Türkiye denies asking UK's MI6 to protect Syria's al-Sharaa

2026-03-06 - 20:52

Türkiye officially denied Friday a media report alleging that its National Intelligence Organization had asked Britain's Secret Intelligence Service to enhance security measures for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Turkish Directorate of Communications' Center for Countering Disinformation issued a statement categorically rejecting the claims circulated by a British news agency. Cooperation with Syrian Authorities The center emphasized that MIT maintains effective counterterrorism collaboration with the international intelligence community and Syria's security institutions. It pointed to recent successful joint operations against the Daesh terrorist organization as concrete examples of this cooperation. "It is not true that MIT requested MI6 to provide protection for the Syrian president or asked it to assume such a role," the statement underlined. Media Report Context Earlier reports, citing five sources familiar with the matter, had claimed that Turkish intelligence approached MI6 last month seeking assistance in protecting al-Sharaa following alleged assassination plots. Türkiye's swift and categorical denial reflects Ankara's commitment to managing its bilateral relationships and counterterrorism partnerships through official channels rather than mediated by third parties.