Syria: Foreign fighters given senior army posts
a lot ofSyria’s new leader has reportedly given a number of foreign Islamist militants senior official positions in the country’s armed forces.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now effectively controls the country, is reorganizing its army following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
While this move by the new leadership has not yet been confirmed, it is likely to raise concerns both inside and outside Syria about the role that radical foreign fighters may play in the country’s future.
Several Syrian sources theorize that at least six of the nearly 50 new military positions announced will be filled by foreigners.
According to the names that have been released, they are said to include Chinese Uyghurs, a Jordanian and a Turk. All were said to have been awarded high-ranking positions such as colonel or brigadier general.
The role of foreign fighters among various armed groups during the civil war has strong resonance in Syria.
Thousands of fighters from many different countries joined the uprising against Assad, which turned into a full-scale armed conflict when mass protests were violently suppressed by security forces.
Some formed their own groups, while others formed the core of the Islamic State group, which controls large swathes of eastern Syria.
Opponents of HTS have long accused the group of being composed largely of foreign jihadists — a charge Assad supporters used to try to delegitimize the group as it launched its final, decisive offensive against the Syrian regime.
But in the years he ran the rebel enclave of Idlib, Ahmed Salah (HTS, now the leader of Syria) has been taking out a number of foreign fighters to strengthen his organization as a nationalist credibility of the author, rather than publicly. Jihadist forces.
Sala’s message since taking power has repeatedly emphasized the vision of a unified Syrian state in which all communities must be respected and have a stake.
For those concerned that his actions may be inconsistent with what he says, this apparent move to formalize the position of some prominent foreign fighters may give them further pause for thought.
The appointments appear to be designed to reward fighters — whether from Syria or elsewhere — who played a significant role in the eventual victory over the Syrian regime.
By the same token, it now seems possible that some remaining foreign fighters and their families will be granted Syrian citizenship.
This issue is just one of many that could complicate Syria’s successful transition to a new political and social framework.
The new authorities attach great importance to the National Dialogue Conference, which is being prepared and will bring together representatives of all sectors of society, although a date has not yet been set.
It is hoped that this meeting will start the process of rebuilding the institutions of a broken and divided country.
