Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.

Western powers warn Syria over foreign fighters in army: Reuters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 10 Jan 2025 22:21
2 Min Read

The controversy stems from late 2024 appointments of nearly 50 individuals to military positions, including six foreign fighters.

Listen
  • x
  • Members of Syria's Ministry of Defense pose for a picture with faction leaders. (@sayed_ridha)
    Members of Syria's Ministry of Defense pose for a picture with faction leaders. (@sayed_ridha)

Reuters on Friday reported that US, French, and German envoys have expressed serious concerns over Syria's new Islamist leadership appointing foreign jihadists to senior military positions. The move, viewed as a security threat and damaging to Syria's international image, was raised during meetings with Syrian officials earlier this month, according to diplomatic sources.

US envoy Daniel Rubinstein directly addressed the issue with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during a meeting at the presidential palace in Damascus. "These appointments will not help them with their reputation in the US," a US official stated. Similar concerns were allegedly raised by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, during a discussion with Sharaa on January 3. 

Controversial Appointments

Related News

US removes Syria envoys as Kurds face pressure to join Damascus

Syria's al-Sharaa: Security deal with 'Israel' is a necessity

The controversy stems from late 2024 appointments of nearly 50 individuals to military positions, including six foreign fighters. Among them are Chinese Uyghur militant Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, also known as Zahid, Egyptian militant Alaa Mohamed Abdelbaqy, and Jordanian citizen Abdul Rahman Hussein al-Khatib. Zahid is linked to the Turkistan Islamic Party, a group designated as terrorist by Beijing, while Abdelbaqy, previously sentenced to life in absentia in Egypt, was a key figure in al-Qaeda-affiliated networks.

Saifiddin Tadjiboev, a 41-year-old Tajik wanted in his home country for terrorism and mercenary activities, has reportedly been appointed commander of the operational headquarters in Syria's new Defense Ministry. pic.twitter.com/FGECv1vgi3

— BZ studios (@BravoZStudio) January 10, 2025

Western nations and Arab allies, including Egypt and Jordan, have voiced opposition to these appointments, fearing they may embolden transnational jihadist networks. Diplomats also worry about the challenges Syria's new rulers face in managing a diverse array of factions while seeking international legitimacy and aid for reconstruction.

Read more: Syrian Defense Minister meets with armed factions for integration

Syrian officials defended their decision, explaining that many of these foreign fighters have been in the country for over a decade, contributing significantly to the fight against Assad, and cannot be returned to their home countries where they may face persecution.

"Maybe this is a middle path that works for everybody," Aaron Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Reuters, adding that the approach could mitigate risks locally and globally, though concerns remain.

  • Syria
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • jihadism
  • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
  • HTS

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS