For the Iraqi government, the decision of the Syrian government to block Iraqi oil exports to the Mediterranean (in the context of Syria siding with Iran in the Iran–Iraq War) prompted it to support the launching of the National Alliance.[1] The coalition was also reportedly obtaining support from Jordan.[7] For the Islamists, on the other hand, joining forces with secular groups had become a necessity after the defeat in Hama in the same year. The charter of the National Alliance had only one passage referring to the Islamic heritage of Syria.[8] This pragmatism caused dissent both within the Muslim Brotherhood ranks (their military wing commander `Adnan `Uqla saw it as treason) as well as from Islamist forces abroad.[8][7][9] A group of ulema led by Thahir Khayrallah broke away from the Muslim Brotherhood in protest against the National Alliance.[10]