Latest news with #nationalarmy
LBCI
6 days ago
- General
- LBCI
US gives nod to Syria to bring foreign jihadist ex-rebels into army
The United States has given its blessing to a plan by Syria's new leadership to incorporate thousands of foreign jihadist former rebel fighters into the national army, provided that it does so transparently, President Donald Trump's envoy said. Three Syrian defense officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian army division, which would also include Syrians. Asked by Reuters in Damascus whether Washington approved the integration of foreign fighters into Syria's new military, Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey who was named Trump's special envoy to Syria last month, said: "I would say there is an understanding, with transparency." He said it was better to keep the fighters, many of whom are "very loyal" to Syria's new administration, within a state project than to exclude them.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Gives Nod to Syria to Bring Ex-Opposition Foreign Fighters into Army
The United States has given its blessing to a plan by Syria's new leadership to incorporate thousands of foreign former opposition fighters into the national army, provided that it does so transparently, President Donald Trump's envoy said. Three Syrian defense officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian army division, which would also include Syrians. Asked by Reuters in Damascus whether Washington approved the integration of foreign fighters into Syria's new military, Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye who was named Trump's special envoy to Syria last month, said: "I would say there is an understanding, with transparency." He said it was better to keep the fighters, many of whom are "very loyal" to Syria's new administration, within a state project than to exclude them. The fate of foreigners who joined Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group during the 13-year war between opposition factions groups and President Bashar al-Assad has been one of the most fraught issues hindering a rapprochement with the West since HTS, a one-time offshoot of al-Qaeda, toppled Assad and took power last year. At least until early May, the United States had been demanding the new leadership broadly exclude foreign fighters from the security forces. But Washington's approach to Syria has changed sharply since Trump toured the Middle East last month. Trump agreed to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria, met Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh and named Barrack, a close friend, as his special envoy. Two sources close to the Syrian defense ministry told Reuters that Sharaa and his circle had been arguing to Western interlocutors that bringing foreign fighters into the army would be less of a security risk than abandoning them, which could drive them into the orbit of al-Qaeda or ISIS. The US State Department and a Syrian government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
US gives nod to Syria to bring former opposition foreign fighters into army
The United States has given its blessing to a plan by Syria's new leadership to incorporate thousands of foreign fighters who fought alongside the Syrian opposition against Bashar al-Assad into the national army, provided that it does so transparently, President Donald Trump's envoy said. Three Syrian defense officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian army division, which would also include Syrians. Asked by Reuters in Damascus whether Washington approved the integration of foreign fighters into Syria's new military, Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey who was named Trump's special envoy to Syria last month, said: 'I would say there is an understanding, with transparency.' He said it was better to keep the fighters, many of whom are 'very loyal' to Syria's new administration, within a state project than to exclude them. The fate of foreigners who joined Syria's 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' opposition fighters during the 13-year war between armed opposition groups and President Bashar al-Assad has been one of the most fraught issues hindering a rapprochement with the West since HTS, a one-time offshoot of al-Qaeda, toppled al-Assad and took power last year. At least until early May, the United States had been demanding the new leadership broadly exclude foreign fighters from the security forces. But Washington's approach to Syria has changed sharply since Trump toured the Middle East last month. Trump agreed to lift al-Assad-era sanctions on Syria, met Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh and named Barrack, a close friend, as his special envoy. Two sources close to the Syrian defense ministry told Reuters that al-Sharaa and his circle had been arguing to Western interlocutors that bringing foreign fighters into the army would be less of a security risk than abandoning them, which could drive them into the orbit of al-Qaeda or ISIS. The US State Department and a Syrian government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Chinese concerns Thousands of foreigners joined Syria's armed opposition forces early in the 13-year civil war to fight against al-Assad, who was himself aided by Iranian-backed Shia militias. Some fighters formed their own factions, while others joined established groups such as ISIS, which briefly declared a caliphate in swathes of Syria and Iraq before being routed by an array of forces backed both by the United States and Iran. Foreign fighters within HTS earned a reputation as loyal, disciplined and experienced militants, and formed the backbone of the group's elite so-called suicide units. They fought against ISIS and against other wings of al-Qaeda from 2016, when HTS broke away from the group founded by Osama bin Laden. The Uyghur fighters from China and Central Asia are members of the Turkistan Islamic Party, a group designated as terrorists by Beijing. A Syrian official and a foreign diplomat said China had sought to have the group's influence in Syria restricted. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said: 'China hopes that Syria will oppose all forms of terrorism and extremist forces in response to the concerns of the international community.' Osman Bughra, a TIP political official, told Reuters in a written statement that the group had officially dissolved and integrated into the Syrian army. 'At present, the group operates entirely under the authority of the Ministry of Defense, adheres to national policy, and maintains no affiliations with external entities or groups,' he said. In December, the appointment of a handful of foreign fighters who were part of HTS's senior leadership to top military posts had alarmed Western governments, raising concerns over the direction of Syria's new leadership. Demands to freeze the appointments and expel rank-and-file foreign fighters became a key point of contention with Washington and other Western countries up until the week of Trump's landmark meeting with al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa has said that foreign fighters and their families may be granted Syrian citizenship due to their role in fighting al-Assad. Abbas Sharifa, a Damascus-based expert on extremist groups, said the fighters being included in the army had shown loyalty to Syria's leadership and were 'ideologically filtered.' But 'if you abandon them they become prey to ISIS or other radical groups' he said.
Russia Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Senegal to expel all foreign troops
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has declared that all foreign military personnel stationed in the country must withdraw by the end of July. French troops remain the only foreign military presence in Senegal, operating under a 2012 defense partnership agreement. As part of a phased withdrawal, France officially transferred control of the Rear Admiral Protet naval base in Dakar to Senegalese authorities on May 15. This follows the earlier handover of the Marshall and Saint-Exupéry facilities in March. The remaining bases are scheduled to be transferred in subsequent phases. Speaking to Burkina Faso's national broadcaster RTB on Monday, Sonko said that since his administration came to power nearly a year ago, it had taken a number of steps to assert national sovereignty. 'We have notified all countries that have military bases in Senegal that we demand a complete withdrawal. There will be no more foreign military bases on Senegalese territory,' he stated. According to the prime minister, the withdrawal process is already underway. He confirmed that one foreign military base was vacated just two days prior to the interview and stressed that the handover of another facility would be completed by the end of July. Sonko framed the move as a normal assertion of sovereignty, stating that Senegal has 'a national army, defense and security forces. We think we are able to ensure our own safety.' He also called on other African nations to take greater control of their own destinies. In November 2023, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called the presence of French troops 'incompatible' with national sovereignty. His newly elected administration has taken a firm stance on scaling back France's military footprint in the country. Several West African nations, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have severed all military ties with France in recent years, citing frustration with French-led counterterrorism efforts and a desire to seek out alternative partners like Russia.
