The British High Commission in Nicosia refrained from commenting on a “Sunday Times” report according to which British military bases in Cyprus are being used to provide intelligence to Syrian rebels in their struggle with forces loyal to President Bashar al Assad.
The newspaper claimed that British intelligence was helping Syrian rebels launch successful attacks on government forces with information gathered from their listening posts in the British Bases.
The report quoted an unnamed Syrian official as saying British spies, based in Cyprus, gather the intelligence then pass it on to Turkish and American sources and the Turkish sources then pass on the intelligence to Syrian insurgents.
“Τhe official government position is that we do not comment on intelligence or operational matters, I am not in a position to give in any further details”, British High Commission Spokesman Michael Howes told CNA.
Howes referred CNA to a statement made by the Foreign Secretary William Hague on August 10th “which sets out what the UK assistance to the Syrian people and the political opposition in Syria is”.
According to the Spokesman, the assistance includes an additional five million pounds on non-lethal practical assistance, that may include medical supplies, communications equipment etc.
Hague in his statement more than two weeks ago, which can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, notes that “the Syrian people need urgent help, and today (August 10) we are greatly increasing what we will do to support them”.
According to Hague, the UK has already trained over 60 Syrian activists to document human rights violations and abuses and provided support for 100 Syrian citizen journalists.
“So now, in the absence of diplomatic progress, the United Kingdom will do much more. We will expand our support to the Syrian people and the Syrian political opposition, with an extra £5 million in non-lethal practical assistance. This will help protect unarmed opposition groups, human rights activists and civilians from some of the worst of the violence. This is in addition to and separate from our humanitarian assistance”, he said.
The British FM said that the assistance will include trauma and medical supplies for civilians in areas under regime control, communications equipment, to help political activists overcome the regime’s communications blockade.
“Our assistance does not include lethal assistance to the armed opposition, and we will of course be careful to whom we provide the practical help that I have mentioned. All the support we provide will be consistent with our laws and values”, he also noted.
