Washington silently moves policy, backing containment over fight in post-Assad Syria
[Damascus] Syria’s transitional federal government, under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has actually started incorporating around 3,500 previous foreign fighters– the majority of them Uyghurs– into the Syrian Arab Army, with the implied approval of the United States. The fighters are being soaked up into a recently developed system, the 84th Department, which will run under the General Command of the armed force. Syrian authorities state the effort becomes part of a wider “nationwide restructuring” strategy following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s routine in late 2024.
The relocation represents a clear break from previous United States policy, which long opposed the addition of foreign contenders in Syrian state organizations. A United States main informed The Media Line that the modification shows a brand-new method of “participatory containment” instead of direct fight. “We understand who these individuals are, and we understand what they can if left not being watched,” the authorities stated. “It’s much better for them to be inside a monitored organization than wandering complimentary searching for a brand-new front.”
The majority of the foreign fighters were formerly associated with the Turkistan Islamic Celebration, a jihadist group active throughout the Syrian civil war. Numerous likewise had ties to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously an al-Qaida affiliate, which played a popular function in falling Assad.
The Turkistan Islamic Celebration has actually supposedly dissolved and signed up with the Syrian army under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has actually likewise dissolved, leaving a lot of its fighters qualified for addition in the brand-new department. Choice is being offered to those who combated versus the Islamic State group or added to the end of the worlds versus Assad.
Prospects need to finish an official vetting and rehab procedure, renounce all previous organizational associations, and consent to comply totally with Syrian military law. Just people who show commitment to the transitional federal government are thought about eligible. Extra requirements consist of finishing from the Syrian military college, which is compulsory for promo and the giving of main ranks. In return, the federal government has actually provided Syrian citizenship to the fighters and their households, “in acknowledgment of their function in the freedom,” according to a federal government representative, under what is being called the National Combination Program.
The 84th Department is not simply another military system. It is an action towards detailed nationwide reconciliation, intending to merge nonstate militaries within the structure of the state.
” The 84th Department is not simply another military system,” a representative from the Syrian Ministry of Defense informed The Media Line. “It is an action towards detailed nationwide reconciliation, intending to merge nonstate militaries within the structure of the state.”
The department’s structure, release zones, and weaponries stay uncertain, triggering issues about its long-lasting objective and intent. Reports recommend that foreign fighters comprise about 30% of the brand-new army’s workers, an advancement that might considerably affect Syria’s military landscape and possibly its local posture.
While the United States has not officially backed the effort, authorities have actually not objected, showing a level of implicit assistance. Diplomatic sources have actually validated that indirect coordination in between Washington and Damascus is occurring. These channels consist of a previous conference in between President Donald Trump and President al-Sharaa in Riyadh and the visit of Thomas Barrack as an unique envoy for Syria.
Responses to the effort have actually differed. Some experts argue the combination might support the nation and assistance avoid future revolts by drawing previous contenders into state organizations.
It seems a momentary offer– Washington jeopardizing on its concept of not working together with foreign fighters in exchange for tight intelligence cooperation with the Syrian federal government on other files.
” It seems a momentary offer– Washington jeopardizing on its concept of not working together with foreign fighters in exchange for tight intelligence cooperation with the Syrian federal government on other files,” Jad Zreiq, a global security professional based in Paris, informed The Media Line.
Lama Al-Homsi, a reintegration policy professional based in Beirut, cautioned of prospective long-lasting dangers. “If this combination procedure stops working, we’ll be replicating terrorism under a main flag,” she informed The Media Line. Al-Homsi worried that any such effort needs to be accompanied by mental, spiritual, and neighborhood rehab, not simply basic training.
Critics, consisting of members of the Syrian opposition, have actually raised issues that the program might function as a backdoor for rearming previous extremists. Some caution that without worldwide oversight, the program might lead to giving senior military functions to people with extremist backgrounds, even more making complex reform efforts and damaging Syria’s vulnerable course towards restoring state organizations.
Worldwide response has actually bewared. China has actually voiced issue over the addition of previous Uyghur fighters, cautioning that Syria might end up being a “safe house for extremist components” if reintegration happens without stringent controls. A representative for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated the relocation postures a security hazard to Chinese interests and advised Syria to turn down all types of terrorism.
Other local powers have actually stayed primarily quiet. Turkey has actually released no main remark however is carefully enjoying advancements due to its enduring issues over Uyghur fighters. Iran and Russia have yet to clarify their positions, while Western federal governments continue to examine the scenario.