Syria: The foreign fighter’s issue is on its way to being resolved
Syrian sources reported that the issue of foreign fighters present in Syria is gradually being resolved, following a series of consultations conducted by the Syrian government with several Arab and Western countries over the past few weeks.
According to sources, the proposed plan calls for dividing foreign fighters into three main categories, based on the level of threat they may pose to the new Syrian state and neighboring countries.
In the first category, there are Uyghurs and conditional naturalization, as in this category which includes less dangerous fighters, primarily the Turkestan Uyghurs, many of whom have settled with their families inside Syria.
According to the plan, these fighters will be granted Syrian citizenship, while their leaders will be excluded from any leadership positions in the new army.
The Syrian authorities consider them supporters of the new leadership, and it’s said that the Transitional President, Ahmed al Sharaa, trusts them, describing them as “comrades in arms,” and sees them as the nucleus of a special security force close to him.
The second category, which will face deportation to other conflict zones, as for fighters classified in this category, they will be voluntarily repatriated to new conflict zones, particularly in Africa, where some international powers see the possibility of “recycling” them for use in alternative hotspots, as part of what amounts to exporting the crisis beyond Syria.
As for the third category, which is classified as dangerous, as it includes the most extreme elements who refuse to engage in the political process or move to a more moderate formula such as that adopted by Hay’at Tahrir al Sham.
Estimates indicate the likelihood of these individuals defecting and joining organizations such as ISIS or al Qaeda, making them a priority in counter-security plans.
Sources reported that a new international coalition is currently being formed to deal with this group, comprising Arab and regional countries, alongside the international coalition to fight ISIS.
What’s interesting about this coalition is the participation of Russia and Israel in carrying out precision airstrikes targeting these extremist groups.
Russia is basing its participation on the presence of its military bases inside Syria, especially after the recent attacks on the Hmeimim base.
On the ground, Iraqi army forces are expected to play a pivotal role in the ground battles, given the fighters’ ties to ISIS’s roots inside Iraq.
The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) will also participate effectively, thanks to their extensive combat experience in pursuing remnants of extremist groups.
