May also have something to do with the fact that there aren't large numbers of British citizens working in Syria - not only the oil business but also English teaching.  The British Council, alone, has a sizeable number of Brits working as teachers in various Libyan universities and companies in Libya.  Not sure that we're 'flavour of the month' (or even decade) in Syria.

Also, you are probably too busy watching and reading UK-targetted media, ecu.  Try BBC World: you'll get a very different picture.