Richard Moore, chief of the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence service (MI6), disclosed London’s clandestine contacts with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Abu Muhammad al-Julani, exposing the hidden methods through which foreign actors manipulate and arm armed groups. This official admission functions as a strategic piece of evidence, not only undermining the credibility of Western anti-terrorism claims but also highlighting the urgent need to reassess foreign policy and intelligence mechanisms in regional countries.

First: Scrutinizing the “fight against terrorism”

The claim of fighting terrorism has long served as a justification for foreign interventions. However, when the intelligence agencies of a Western power maintain direct or supportive relations with groups previously labeled as “terrorist,” the line between “policy tool” and “state-sponsored terrorism” becomes blurred. This official duality undermines the legitimacy of interventions in practice and erodes international trust.

Second: Historical patterns and continuity

The recent confession follows a historical pattern: from the era of the East India Company to contemporary interventions, Britain has demonstrated recurring strategies of exploiting organized violence to achieve geopolitical objectives. This pattern reappears in the form of proxy support, secret networks, and intelligence alliances. Therefore, this disclosure should be seen as part of a long-term trend with structural consequences for the region and beyond.

Third: Regional and strategic implications

Secret support for armed actors erodes the security and social structures of host countries, disrupts the political resolution of crises, and reinforces anti-Western narratives. Such actions also strengthen opportunistic extremist groups and intensify geopolitical rivalries. For regional states, these behaviors serve as a catalyst for enhancing coordination and collective responses against foreign interventions.

Fourth: Counter-strategies and practical recommendations

An effective response must be multidimensional:

Strengthen regional intelligence cooperation and data-sharing to detect and neutralize support channels.
Employ legal and media tools to expose documents and hold actors accountable internationally.
Promote transparency and oversight mechanisms for intelligence operations to prevent misuse.
Bolster domestic policies that curb extremism, including social justice initiatives, political and economic reconstruction, and expanding dialogue and mediation capacities.

The MI6 revelation should be viewed as an opportunity to revisit security and foreign policies. Without transparency and accountability, ostensibly tactical actions can deepen crises and undermine the long-term interests of both foreign and regional actors. Only through political convergence, strengthened oversight, and proactive diplomacy can the cycle of violence be broken, paving the way for reconstruction and stability.