Western Nations Challenge Syria on Military Appointments Amidst New Governance

U.S., France, and Germany Express Security Concerns Over Inclusion of Foreign Jihadists in Syrian Army Leadership

Syria's new security forces conduct sweeps in Homs, looking for ousted Assad's loyalists, Syria, Jan 2, 2025. (Photo: Leo Correa/AP)
Syria's new security forces conduct sweeps in Homs, looking for ousted Assad's loyalists, Syria, Jan 2, 2025. (Photo: Leo Correa/AP)

Jan 11, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Western nations have issued stern warnings to Syria concerning the inclusion of foreign jihadists in pivotal military roles, as reported by Reuters on Friday.

According to Reuters envoys from the U.S., France, and Germany have communicated their apprehensions directly to Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of Syria's newly established administration and former commander of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces. The primary concern is the security implications of appointing international jihadists to high-ranking positions within the Syrian military.

A detailed discussion took place at the presidential palace on Wednesday, where U.S. envoy Daniel Rubinstein met with Al-Sharaa. A U.S. official reportedly stated, "These appointments will compromise their standing with the United States."

Furthermore, during a meeting on January 3, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock also addressed the contentious issue of integrating foreign fighters into the Syrian army's ranks.

Read More: French, German Foreign Ministers visit Damascus in post-Assad diplomatic mission

Following the HTS-led coup that deposed former President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Al-Sharaa’s administration has been actively working to dismantle the Assad-era military and rebuild a new force that incorporates fighters from diverse nationalities, including China, Central Asia, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan.

Syrian officials have defended the inclusion of these foreign fighters, suggesting in local media statements that their contributions to Assad's overthrow were significant and might warrant Syrian citizenship.

In a related development, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a temporary easing of sanctions on Syria, initially for a six-month period, following the dramatic regime change facilitated by HTS just a month prior.

Read More: US Relaxes Sanctions on Syria for Humanitarian Purposes