US backs integration of foreign fighters into new Syrian Army: Reuters
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The United States has approved a Syrian plan to integrate around 3,500 former foreign fighters, mostly Uighurs, into the army's newly formed 84th Division, marking a shift in US policy under Trump's envoy to Syria.
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Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized Syrian army armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Hama, Syria, on December 3, 2024 (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
The United States has given its approval to a plan by Syria’s new leadership to integrate thousands of former hardline opposition fighters, including foreign nationals, into the ranks of the Syrian army, Reuters reported on Monday.
In an interview with the agency, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, confirmed that Washington had agreed to the proposal under specific conditions. "The United States has agreed to a plan proposed by the new Syrian leadership to allow thousands of former hardline opposition fighters to join the National Army, provided this occurs transparently," Barrack said.
He emphasized that it would be more effective to keep these fighters, many of whom are described as "very loyal" to the current government, under official state control rather than leaving them outside the system.
Shift from previous US stance
This development marks a significant departure from previous US policy, according to Reuters. It is worth noting that up until at least early May, Washington had insisted that the Syrian leadership exclude foreign fighters from all security and military structures.
The approval signals a notable shift in strategy amid changing dynamics on the ground in Syria.
Reuters quoted three Syrian defense officials who revealed that the plan includes approximately 3,500 foreign fighters, the majority of whom are Uighurs from China and neighboring countries. These fighters are set to be integrated into a newly established unit, the 84th Division of the Syrian army, which will also include Syrian nationals.
A political figure from the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria told Reuters, "We have officially dissolved the party and it has joined the Syrian army."
On December 30, 2024, the agency cited two sources confirming that Syria's new rulers had already begun recruiting foreign fighters, including Uighurs, Jordanians, and Turks, into the armed forces. Reports indicate that these individuals and their families could be granted Syrian citizenship and permitted to settle permanently in the country.
Foreign fighters test Syria’s new government
On a related note, foreign fighters once played a key role in helping Syrian militants topple al-Assad's government and rule in his stead, but they have now become a significant challenge for the country’s emerging leadership, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 1.
As the United States and Syria call to expel the extremist members, Syria’s new government remains deeply divided over how to handle thousands of foreign militants. The Wall Street Journal highlighted that internal disagreements are mounting as concerns grow over ethnically driven violence linked to some of these groups.
