a lotSyria's new leaders have reportedly given some foreign Islamist fighters senior official positions in the country's armed forces.
The army is being reorganized by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham – the Islamist group now effectively in charge of the country – following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
While there has been no confirmation of the move by the new leadership, it is likely to raise concerns inside and outside Syria about the role foreign extremist militants could play in the country's future.
Several Syrian sources concluded that of the approximately 50 new military positions announced, at least six went to foreigners.
Based on the names that were published, it is said that among them are Chinese Uyghur citizens, a Jordanian, and a Turkish national. All of them are said to have attained high-ranking positions such as colonel or brigadier general.
The role of foreign fighters in various armed groups during the civil war is one that arouses strong feelings in Syria.
Thousands of fighters from many different countries joined the uprising against Assad as it turned into an all-out armed conflict when mass protests were met with violence by security forces.
Some formed their own groups, others formed the nucleus of the Islamic State, which controlled large areas in eastern Syria.
Opponents of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham have long accused it of being largely made up of foreign jihadists – a charge that Assad's supporters used to try to delegitimize the group when it launched its final and decisive offensive against the regime.
But in the years he ran the rebel enclave in Idlib, Ahmed al-Sharaa — the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and now Syria — was getting rid of some of these foreign fighters in an attempt to bolster his group's nationalist credentials rather than overtly. Jihadist force.
Since he assumed power, Al-Sharaa’s message has repeatedly stressed the vision of a unified Syrian state, in which all sects must be respected and have an interest in it.
For those who worry that his actions may not match his words, this apparent move to formalize the positions of some prominent foreign fighters may give them more pause for thought.
It appears that the appointments were made in order to reward those fighters – whether from Syria or elsewhere – who played an important role in the final victory over the regime.
For the same reason, it now seems likely that some of the remaining foreign fighters – along with their families – will obtain Syrian citizenship.
This issue is just one of many that could complicate any successful transition to a new political and social framework in Syria.
The new authorities are paying great attention to the National Dialogue Conference, which is being prepared to bring together representatives from all segments of society – although a date has not been set.
The hope is that the conference will launch the process of rebuilding the shattered and divided state institutions.
