 "Syrian anti-regime forces celebrate as they pour into the captured central-west city of Hama on December 6, 2024, in the offensive against then-Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. (Photo: AFP)")
US President Donald Trump has approved Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s plan to recruit foreign jihadists in the country’s reconstituted military.
For over a decade, as a civil war raged in Syria, thousands of jihadists from West Asia, Central Asia, and elsewhere flocked to Syria where they joined a host of groups. Many of them joined groups fighting against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime — including Al-Shaara’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Al-Shaara himself has jihadist roots and was previously part of Isis before joining HTS when it functioned as the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. He announced HTS’ separation from Al-Qaeda in 2016 and has since pitched the group as a political movement opposed to the Assad dynasty instead of a jihadist outfit.
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Even as there are concerns among Western governments about Al-Shaara’s government’s jihadist character, Trump has announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria and has now approved the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the country’s military.
Thousands of foreign jihadists to join Syrian military
Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria, has told Reuters that the Trump administration has reached an understanding with Al-Sharaa about the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the country’s military.
Barrack said, “I would say there is an understanding, with transparency.”
Barrack further said that it was better to keep these jihadists, many of whom are “very loyal” to Al-Sharaa’s government, within Syria’s new structures than excluding them.
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Three Syrian defence officials have told the news agency that there are around 3,500 foreign jihadists in Syria affiliated with the HTS. They comprise mainly Uyghurs from China and neighbouring countries.
Official said that these jihadists would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian Army Division. The formation would also include Syrians.
The news agency reported that Barrack has echoed the same reasoning as that of Al-Sharaa’s government.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTwo sources close to the Syrian defence ministry told the news agency that Al-Sharaa and his circle believe that bringing foreign jihadists into the reconstituted military would be less of a security risk than abandoning them which could drive them into joining groups like Al-Qaeda or Isis.