Myth: Syria sends insurgents to Iraq

Syria is often accused of fuelling the 'insurgency' by sending fighters over the border into Iraq. This is unlikely on five counts.

Firstly, part of the insurgency in Iraq is religiously motivated. Syria, an avowedly secular state, is terrified of religious fanaticism, and has put down such movements in the past. Furthermore, Al Qaeda - which forms part of the religiously-motivated insurgency - is a sworn enemy of secular regimes such as Syria's (as it was of Saddam's regime), and it views the ruling Alawite sect in Damascus as heretics. As such, Syria has been widely recognised as cooperating with the US against Al Qaeda.

Secondly, Syria is unlikely to support that part of the insurgency which seeks to re-establish the rule of Iraq's Baath party. In the 1960s, a schism developed between the Ba'ath parties in Syria and Iraq which has never been resolved. In fact, the regimes were bitterly opposed to each other. This enmity increased following Syria's support for Iran in the Iran-Iraq war, and its support for the US-led coalition that ousted Iraqi troops from Kuwait in 1991. Diplomatic ties have only recently been re-established. There was no love lost between the regimes, and those who accused Syria of harbouring Saddam regime figures never explained why doing so would be in its interests. Members of Saddam's regime who did make their way illegally to Syria (including the half-brother of Saddam himself) have been handed over by the Syrian government. See:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4303037.stm

Thirdly, Syria has nothing to gain from continued instability in its neighbour, and has said so consistently. It is worried that the unrest (particularly of a sectarian nature) could spread to Syria, and that is the last thing it wants.

Fourthly, the war has already caused internal problems in Syria, such as a massive influx of around 1.5 million Iraqi refugees. This has severely strained the country's economy and resources. Refugees cannot and will not return to Iraq unless they get assurances of safety and security. Therefore, it makes no sense for Syria to support violence in Iraq - that would mean hosting a huge refugee population at great cost indefinitely.

Fifthly, Syria is threatened by neighbouring US forces in Iraq, with occasional raids and airspace violations, regular talk of the need for enforced regime change in Damascus, and speculation that this could be best achieved from Iraq. The US has emphasised the need for an orderly withdrawal from the country, and has refused to leave under fire, or while the insurgency continues unabated. Likewise, the Iraqi government has said US troops will stay in the country until Iraqi forces are strong enough to take over. As such, the surest way for Syria to see the back of US troops in Iraq is to encourage stability in its neighbour.

Syria has vehemently rejected claims that it helps fighters cross into Iraq, it has made clear its desire to cooperate against this, and has taken action which includes arresting, extraditing, and even battling suspected fighters.

"Syria…has taken steps to reduce the flow of foreign fighters through its borders with Iraq," acknowledged the top coalition commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, in December 2007.

http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/press-coverage-2007/december-2007/petraeus-has-rare-praise-for-syria/

In May 2007, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly praised Syria for battling militants trying to slip over its border into Iraq, including former bodyguards of Saddam. Also that month, the US military said Syria was doing more to seal its border with Iraq to foreign fighters. This was welcomed by Margaret Beckett, Britain's then-Foreign Secretary, and by her successor David Miliband.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/13/syria-foreignpolicy

"There has been a reduction in the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq" from Syria, said US Major General William Caldwell in Baghdad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/may/04/syria.iraq

After a US raid into Syria in October 2008, US claims against Syrian cooperation went unchallenged in certain sections of the mainstream media. However, some correspondents reported otherwise.

"Syria…has worked harder at stemming the flow of militants into Iraq," reported Iraq correspondent Deborah Haynes in the Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5019779.ece

"The timing of the attack startled many, coming so soon after American praise for Syrian efforts to stem the flow of jihadists over the border," wrote the newspaper's diplomatic correspondent Catherine Philp. The number of foreign fighters crossing the border "has fallen to 20 a month from 120 a month last year…"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5030766.ece

Syria "has become more co-operative in stopping the movement of fighters across the border," wrote the Independent's Iraq correspondent Patrick Cockburn.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-condemns-us-raid-on-syrian-village-976920.html

This is not the first time US troops have raided Syrian territory in recent years. It is vital to note that the Syrian-Iraqi border is vast, and thus difficult to fully seal. "As with any borders in the world, you cannot seal it 100%," said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem at a press conference in London in October 2008. Also, "you need a partner on the other side to control his side of the border. You need a partner with whom you can share information," he added, claiming that the Americans "never present evidence" of Syrian support for fighters crossing the border. Syrian officials point to difficulties the US has with its border with Mexico, despite its vastly superior resources.

"Much of the [Syrian-Iraqi] border is impossible to seal," wrote Harry de Quetteville in the Daily Telegraph, referring to "new barbed wire and reinforced sand barriers across the 400-mile border, which cost £1.5 million." De Quetteville reported acknowledgement by Western diplomats in Damascus of Syria's efforts, quoting one as saying the country has "tried quite hard to stop" the flow of fighters into Iraq.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/1501843/Syria-accuses-US-of-launching-lethal-raids-over-its-borders.html

Syrian troops "have erected a sand wall and embark on daily foot and vehicle patrols" of the border with Iraq, reported CNN in July 2008. Syrian commanders say they could do better if they were able to obtain modern equipment denied them because of sanctions. According to Gen. Khaklil Al-Khaled, a provincial military commander in northeastern Syria, not only does the US not cooperate with Syria over the border, but it also violates Syrian airspace, "sometimes not less than five to six times per month with their military jets and helicopters."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/04/syria.iraq.border/index.html

In April 2008, the United States Institute of Peace, established and funded by Congress, noted US military thinking that "fewer insurgents are being allowed to infiltrate from Syria."

http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0406_iraq_surge.html 

A year earlier, the USIP produced a briefing on Syrian-Iraqi relations, among which the main points were:

"…even if Syria were to offer full cooperation and completely stanch the flow of fighters and weapons, the overall impact on Iraq's security situation would be relatively marginal since the underlying dynamic propelling Iraq's violence is largely internal."

"Both countries' decision to resume diplomatic ties in November 2006 after a break of nearly 25 years underscores their shared strategic interest in a cohesive and stable Iraq."

"The Syrians have a shared interest in preventing al-Qaeda elements from gaining momentum in Iraq, and have reportedly arrested up to 2,000 suspected jihadists. In the past, they have provided low-level intelligence cooperation on al-Qaeda insurgents to both Iraqi and US intelligence services."

http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2007/syria_iraq.pdf

Syria has signed an agreement with the Iraqi and US governments for joint patrols along the border, and has said it was willing to do "whatever it takes" to cooperate with US and Iraqi authorities in bringing security and stability to its neighbour. However, Syria has complained that its efforts at cooperation have been rebuffed by the US. See:

www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria25may25,1,4044048.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true