Foreign soldiers have been given senior positions in the army, reports said

The new Syrian authorities have reportedly given some foreign Islamists top positions in the country’s military.

The army is being reorganized by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the Islamist group that has effectively ruled the country – following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.

There is no evidence of a new leadership in this move, but it seems that it may raise concerns inside and outside of Syria about the role these foreign forces could play in the country’s future.

Their presence in Syria during the 13-year civil war helped turn the conflict into an even more violent and brutal one.

International jihadists have been seen trying to impose their extremist views on Syria – something Syrians from all communities now say they will not accept in the country’s post-Assad future.

Several Syrian sources have found that of the nearly 50 new military roles announced, at least six have gone to foreigners.

Based on published names, they are said to include Chinese, Jordanian and Turkish Uyghurs. All of them are said to have been given high positions such as colonels or obrigadier-general.

The role of foreign fighters in various armed groups during the civil war arouses strong feelings in Syria.

Thousands of fighters from many different countries joined the uprising against Assad as it became an armed conflict where mass protests were met with violence by the security forces.

Some formed their own groups and others provided the core of the Islamic State (IS) group, which controlled large areas of eastern Syria.

Opponents of HTS have long accused it of being made up mostly of foreign jihadists – a charge Assad’s supporters have used to try to legitimize the group as it continues its attacks on the regime.

But in his years in charge of the rebels in Idlib, Ahmed al-Sharaa — the leader of HTS and now Syria — has been fielding some of those foreign heroes in an effort to bolster his party’s credentials as a nationalist rather than overtly outspoken. jihadist forces.

Al-Sharaa’s message since taking office has repeatedly emphasized the vision of a unified Syrian state, where all communities must be respected and contributed to.

For those worried that his actions may not match his words, this apparent move to legitimize the positions of some prominent foreign watchdogs may give them pause for thought.

This appointment seems to have been made with the intention of rewarding those fighters – be they from Syria or elsewhere – who have played a major role in the final victory of the regime.

For the same reason, some of the remaining foreign fighters – and their families – now appear likely to be granted Syrian citizenship.

The issue is one of many that could complicate any transition to a new political and social framework in Syria.

The new authorities are putting a lot of weight on the National Dialogue Conference which is being prepared to bring together representatives from all walks of life – although a date has not yet been set.

The hope is that this conference will establish a plan for the reconstruction of the institutions of this country that has been divided.