Bilateral relations
Since the Syrian civil war , the United Kingdom has supported the Syrian opposition .[1] The United Kingdom closed its embassy in Syria in 2011, and the Embassy of Syria, London was closed the following year.[2]
History
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(April 2021 )
First Lady of Syria Asma al-Assad was born and raised in England .[3]
1950s
On 6 November 1956, during the Suez Crisis , a Royal Air Force Canberra PR.7 was sent to overfly Syria on a photo reconnaissance mission, and was shot down by a Syrian Air Force Gloster Meteor . As of 2022, this was the last RAF aircraft shot down in an enemy air-to-air engagement.[4] [5]
21st century
A protester holds up a "Don't bomb Syria" sign during a protest in London in November 2015.
In 2001, positive relations were developed between Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Syrian government , as part of the War on Terror .[6]
In 2002, President Bashar al-Assad made an official visit to the United Kingdom, the first Syrian leader to do so.[7] He and his wife Asma met with Queen Elizabeth II .[8]
In 2003, the British Syrian Society was established in London by Fawaz Akhras , father-in-law of Bashar al-Assad .[9]
Since the 2011 civil war, relations have deteriorated, and the UK was one of the first countries to recognise the opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.[1]
The Embassy of Syria in London closed in 2013.
In 2018, the UK took part in the missile strikes against Syria alongside the United States and France .[10]
In March 2021, the British Government placed sanctions on key allies of Assad .[11]
See also
References
Africa Americas Asia Europe Disputes Diplomatic missions Multilateral
Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania Former