The US envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, stated that the United States has approved the new Syrian leadership’s plan to integrate thousands of former jihadist fighters into the Syrian army, provided that this is done transparently.
Reuters reported today, Monday, June 2, that Barrack responded to their question when he was in Damascus a few days ago, regarding Washington’s approval to integrate foreign fighters into the Syrian army by saying, “I would say there is an understanding and transparency, and it is better to keep the fighters, many of whom are very loyal to the new Syrian administration, within the state project rather than excluding them.”
The agency quoted three Syrian officials from the Ministry of Defense as saying that, under US approval, around 3,500 foreign fighters would be integrated into the Syrian army, most of whom are Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, and they will join the newly formed 84th Brigade, which also consists of Syrians.
For his part, the political official in the Turkistan Islamic Party, Osman Boghra, stated that the party has officially dissolved itself and joined the Syrian army, explaining in a written statement that the group is currently operating fully under the authority of the Ministry of Defense, adhering to national policy, and has no connections with any external parties or groups.
Previous concerns
In recent months, foreign fighters have been a point of concern for the West, as three European envoys made clear during a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Damascus that their top priority is to eliminate jihadist fighters and that international support for the Syrian government may evaporate unless decisive action is taken on this issue.
American, French, and German envoys warned the new administration in Syria that the appointment of foreign jihadists to high military positions represents a “security concern and a bad image” for them at a time when they are trying to establish relations with foreign countries.
Meanwhile, the UN special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged the Syrian authorities to address concerns regarding terrorism, including foreign fighters.
After Bashar al-Assad’s fall, the Syrian president for the transitional phase, Ahmed al-Sharaa, stated that granting citizenship to foreign fighters is not impossible and that they can be integrated into Syrian society if they share the same ideology and values as the Syrians, and some of them were granted military ranks, with at least six military positions in the Syrian Ministry of Defense going to foreigners out of 50 announced.
US approves integration of foreign fighters into Syrian army Enab Baladi.
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