In a striking shift in local policy, Syria’s transitional federal government is incorporating about 3,500 previous foreign fighters– mainly Uyghurs– into its military ranks, with peaceful support from the United States. The Media Line’s Rizik Alabi reports that the previous jihadists are signing up with the recently formed 84th Department under a program the Syrian federal government is calling the National Combination Program.
These fighters, much of whom were formerly connected to the Turkistan Islamic Celebration and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, are being used Syrian citizenship in exchange for commitment, military college training, and a tidy break from their previous associations. Authorities state the program is implied to support post-Assad Syria by bringing armed stars into the fold of the state instead of letting them run individually.
Washington isn’t cheering from the roofs, however it’s not objecting either. A United States main informed The Media Line, “It’s much better for them to be inside a monitored organization than wandering totally free looking for a brand-new front.” Peaceful coordination seems taking place through back channels, consisting of a previous conference in between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.
While some see this as a vibrant effort at nationwide reconciliation, others alert it might backfire if these fighters aren’t completely reformed. China, in specific, is anxious about Uyghur contenders acquiring defense in Syria and has actually provided cautions about prospective extremist revival.
Alabi’s reporting brings readers deep into the progressing landscape of Syria’s security device and its brand-new local balancing act. For more on the ramifications– consisting of responses from China, Turkey, and worldwide experts–read the full article