The United Arab Emirates, one of the United States’ closest Arab allies, is training Syrian intelligence and military officers and is giving financial aid to government-owned civilian facilities in Damascus, a report claims.
The UAE broke off diplomatic relations
with Damascus at the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. But
relations between the two countries were restored in 2018, when the oil
kingdom reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital.
According to an investigation by the French-language Arab-affairs publication Orient XXI, which was reported
on by the Middle East Monitor, Abu Dhabi began providing logistical,
technical and financial assistance to the Syrian government soon after
the embassy of the Emirates was reopened in Damascus. Orient XXI said
that Emirati instructors are currently training around 40 Syrian
military intelligence officers. Of these, 31 are non-commissioned
officers, while at least 8 more are information technology and
communication systems engineers.
Another group of Emirati instructors are
allegedly training members of the Syrian Arab Army’s general staff,
including at least five Syrian fighter pilots. The pilots are currently
attending an all-expenses paid course at the UAE Air Force’s Khalifa bin
Zayed Air College (KBZAC) in Al Ain. Orient XXI reports that the
duration of the courses range from 60 days to a year, and are supervised
by the intelligence services of the Syrian government. The Syrian
supervisory mission at the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College is reportedly
headed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s cousin, Lieutenant Colonel
Jihad Barakat, who previously commanded Syrian paramilitary units.
Washington has tried several times to kill Barakat.
The report by Orient XXI also alleges
that the Emiratis have been providing substantial financial aid, medical
provisions and food supplies to Syrian government-owned hospitals and
welfare centers in Damascus and other regions of the country, which are
controlled by al-Assad’s forces. The UAE has already helped rebuilt
several public buildings, electric power stations and water plants in
Damascus, which were damaged during the war, says Orient XXI.
Officially, the Syrian government is
subject to a wide-ranging embargo by the Arab League, of which the UAE
is a member. Additionally, the UAE’s alleged assistance to the Syrian
government appears to be in direct violation of broad sanctions imposed
on Syria by the US. Last year, Washington unveiled the Caesar Syria
Civilian Protection Act, a far-reaching legislation that aims to punish
governments around the world that provide financial or material support
to Damascus.
On June 19, the US government threatened
for the first time to impose sanctions on the UAE, in response to its
support for the Syrian government. During a press conference to announce
the implementation of the Caesar Act, James Franklin, US Special
Representative for Syria Engagement, condemned the reopening of the
Emirati embassy in Damascus and the rapprochement that is apparently
taking place between Damascus and Aby Dhabi. “The UAE knows that we
absolutely refuse that countries take such steps […]. We have clearly
stressed that we consider this a bad idea”, said Franklin. The US
government has not commented on the Orient XXI report.
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