Concerns mount over integration of foreign ex-fighters into Syrian army
Concerns mount over integration of foreign ex-fighters into Syrian army
In a move stirring international unease, Syria’s new administration has launched a controversial initiative to integrate thousands of former foreign opposition fighters into a restructured national military force — a plan approved with conditions by the United States.
According to diplomatic and defense sources, the plan will incorporate around 3,500 foreign fighters, many of whom are Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, into a newly established military unit named the “84th Division.”
This unit will include both Syrian nationals and former combatants from opposition groups. U.S. officials argue that integrating these individuals into a monitored military structure is a more stable alternative than allowing them to return to shadowy networks of extremism.
However, security experts and regional observers are raising alarms over the long-term implications of this policy. They warn that the move may offer a foothold for groups like ISIS, especially as these fighters possess intricate knowledge of the region and the new Syrian power dynamics. There are fears they could act as internal catalysts for renewed extremist activity, particularly as ISIS continues efforts to free detained members from Kurdish-controlled camps.
Critics also highlight the symbolic and societal risks of legitimizing former militants by embedding them into national institutions. Granting them potential citizenship and official ranks could send troubling signals domestically, especially to communities that suffered from violence attributed to these fighters, including in coastal regions and Druze-majority areas.
Analysts warn of cultural and ideological spillover, suggesting that embedding hardline fighters could entrench rigid behaviors and values in areas of Syria seeking recovery and reform. This, they say, could undo fragile gains in tolerance and social cohesion.
U.S. envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, defended the policy, citing transparency and reform, and describing some of the recruits as loyal to the new government. His comments reflect a broader shift in American policy following President Trump’s recent Middle East tour, which resulted in a partial easing of sanctions on Damascus and Barrack’s appointment.
