The foreign fighters in Syria… The forefront dilemma

The issue of foreign fighters in Syria is one of the most complex challenges facing the new government led by Ahmed al Sharaa.

While the new Syrian administration seeks to integrate these fighters into state institutions, international pressure, particularly from the United States, is mounting to remove them from the political and military arena, and even to deport them as a condition for easing sanctions imposed on Damascus.

Talk of granting these fighters Syrian citizenship and appointing some of them to senior military positions has raised concern within Syrian society, especially after reports of some of them being involved in the coastal massacres.

Although there are no accurate official statistics, estimates place their number between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters, most of whom are stationed in the coastal mountainous regions, after entering Syria beginning in 2015 to participate in the overthrow of Assad’s regime.

Despite criticism directed at the government, it hasn’t taken clear steps to address this sensitive issue.

The transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa’s previous statements regarding “foreign fighters being entitled to a reward” sparked widespread controversy, particularly after he hinted at the possibility of integrating them into the new army or granting them Syrian citizenship.

While the government attempts to downplay their influence, pointing out that their numbers are small and they pose no threat domestically or to friendly countries, observers believe the issue could become a time bomb if it continues to be ignored.

With the escalating internal debate and mounting international pressure, the new Syrian government appears to be faced with only two options: either resolve the foreign fighter issue in a transparent manner that meets domestic and international demands, or risk continued instability, which could hinder any efforts to rebuild the state and its institutions.