The Tactics Institute for Security and Counterterrorism expresses grave concerns over Syria’s recent decision to appoint foreign fighters to high-ranking military positions under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This move will risk deepening domestic divisions, undermine regional stability, and fuel international tensions.
Following the coup of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s new regime is engaged in a revolutionary overhaul of its armed forces. Six of nearly 50 new appointments are reportedly foreign-born citizens of Turkey, Jordan, Albania, and China-the latter of Uyghur fighters-and most prominent among them is Abdul Jashari, who is listed by the US as a terrorist.
Jashari is of ethnic Albanian descent, coming from North Macedonia, and was appointed as one of HTS’s commanders in 2014. In the role with HTS, Jashari has been linked to various groups which have perpetrated terrorism and abuses against human rights in Syria. HTS itself is a product of its previous life as the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, and thus complicates its status under international law and raises questions about the integration of such individuals into governance structures.
Including the members of HTS or related groups, which have many who have a track record of radicalization, casts a shadow on the new government’s governance policy. Critics view this policy as an extension of the HTS doctrine of loyalty to foreign fighters but also destabilizes both Syria and the larger region.
The term often used to refer to foreign fighters, especially those connected to organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda, is “foreign terrorist fighters.” Such a term brings with it certain implications in international law regarding treatment and legal frameworks applicable. Since the governments in Syria, like the Syrian Democratic Forces, have not been recognized, their status and that of any appointment within the structure of government remains problematic.
This is further compounded by the lack of prosecution of foreign fighters for their crimes during the conflict. The lack of proper channels of legal prosecution either in Syria or returning to their countries of origin creates a law vacuum that goes against the justice of the victims.
The Tactics Institute urges the new Syrian leadership that appointments to key military and administrative positions must reflect a commitment to inclusivity and representation of Syria’s diverse population rather than consolidating power within HTS ranks. Transparent criteria for military promotions and the granting of citizenship to foreign nationals must be established, with input from Syrian stakeholders. The presence of radicalised foreign fighters in high-ranking positions poses a direct security threat. Mechanisms to monitor their activities and limit the export of extremism to other nations are essential. Collaboration with global counter-terrorism bodies to assess the implications of these appointments and ensure compliance with international security standards is critical.
The Tactics Institute urges the newly established Syria regime to enact measures that strengthen national reconciliation, ensure observance of the norms of international security, and avoid behavior which would likely deepen tensions at home and around the world. Transparence and inclusivity would be needed for stability as well as resolving longer-term problems facing the Syrian governance in a post-conflict framework.
