Keep Assad in power to help defeat Islamic State, say a third of Britons

Fight against Islamic State: Syrian president Bashar Assad

AP Photo/SANA

Nicholas Cecil, Political Editor @nicholascecil

8 January 2016

Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad should be kept in power to defeat Islamic State, say more than a third of Britons according to a new poll.

The BMG Research survey found 35 per cent of people regard IS as a worse evil and a far bigger threat to the UK than the Assad regime.

This contrasted with just over a quarter who believe Britain should not support the Syrian president even if this meant losing ground to IS, while 39 per cent said “don’t know”.

The Assad government and militias linked to it have been accused of carrying out appalling atrocities including using chemical weapons on civilians, torture, using rape as a weapon of war and brutal executions.

Forces loyal to the regime and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement have also besieged the former holiday resort of Madaya, close to Damascus, where people have been forced to eat cats, leaves and grass to survive, with reports of some starving to death.

The UN today said Syrian officials had agreed to allow humanitarian aid to the town, as well as Fuaa and Kafraya, after shocking pictures revealed the plight of thousands of local people without food, water or electricity.

Islamic State has also shocked the world with its gruesome beheadings, crucifixions and throwing people off buildings for being gay.

IS fanatics have threatened attacks in the UK, with hundreds of Britons having travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the terror organisation’s ranks, and many having then returned here.

The poll was carried out before the full scale of the suffering in Madaya emerged. It also found that a third of Britons believe the UK should send ground troops to Syria to defeat IS, with 44 per cent against such a deployment and 23 per cent “don’t knows”.

Men are significantly more likely than women to back using UK ground troops in Syria, by 41 per cent to 24 per cent, and also to support keeping Assad in power to destroy IS.

Michael Turner, BMG’s research director, said: “Our previous polling last November showed increasing support for the extension of Iraqi airstrikes by the RAF into Syria. But ‘boots on the ground’ appears to be a step too far for Britons at this time, particularly for older people, with over half of over-55s against the deployment of troops.”

America, Britain and other allies are seeking an international consensus with Russia and other countries in the Middle East for a solution to end the Syrian civil war, which has seen at least 250,000 people killed, and step up the battle against IS. The UK is prepared for Assad to remain in power in the short term but believes he has to eventually go to heal the bitter wounds between Syria’s communities.

Hopes of a deal, though, suffered a severe blow with the diplomatic clash between Saudi Arabia and Iran after Riyadh executed Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

@nicholascecil

BMG Research polled 1,585 adults online across the UK from December 9 to 15. Data is weighted.

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