U.S. Approves Syrian Transition Plan to Integrate Foreign Fighters into National Army - Reuters

The United States has approved a plan by Syria’s new transitional authorities to incorporate thousands of former foreign fighters who previously opposed Bashar al-Assad’s regime into the ranks of the Syrian army, Orda.kz reports, citing Reuters.

Reuters cites U.S. special envoy to Syria Thomas Barak and multiple Syrian military sources.

According to three officials from Syria’s Ministry of Defense, the plan will see around 3,500 foreign fighters, primarily Uyghurs from China and Central Asian countries, join a newly formed unit composed of Syrian citizens, the 84th Syrian Army Division.

Two sources close to the Syrian Ministry of Defense said the new Syrian authorities and their Middle Eastern allies had persuaded Western governments that integrating foreign fighters into the national army would reduce the likelihood of their return to international militant groups.

Until recently, the United States had opposed the involvement of foreign combatants in Syria’s security forces.

However, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East, Washington’s position shifted. In May, the U.S. began gradually lifting sanctions previously imposed.

The EU has also done so.