On Monday, June 2, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack confirmed that Washington had approved the proposal, which would allow thousands of foreign fighters to join the ranks of the newly formed Syrian army.
Barrack stated that the United States had endorsed a plan put forward by the transitional authorities in Syria, allowing for the inclusion of approximately 3,500 foreign fighters, primarily Uyghurs from China and neighbouring countries, into the army’s 84th Division, part of the Ministry of Defence, according to Reuters.
“There is understanding and a sense of transparency that it is better to retain foreign fighters, many of whom are deeply loyal to the new Syrian administration, within the framework of a state project, rather than marginalise them,” Barrack said.
The exclusion of foreign fighters had initially been among the conditions set by the United States for lifting sanctions and normalising ties with the transitional administration in Syria.
The Turkestan Islamic Party is regarded as the largest military faction in Syria to be composed entirely of foreign fighters. It is led by Abu Omar Kawthar, with Abdul Aziz Abu Muhammad, also known by the nom de guerre Zahid Qari, serving as its military commander.
Members of the group are currently deployed in the northern countryside of Latakia Governorate and around Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib Governorate.
The United States removed the Turkestan Islamic Party from its list of designated terrorist organisations in 2020, citing a lack of evidence of the group’s continued existence. The decision was made under then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
On Sunday, the U.S. Department of State described the raising of the
American flag in Damascus, marking the first such event since 2012, as a “defining moment.”
In a statement posted on X, the department said the flag was raised in the presence of the U.S. envoy to Syria, symbolising a step forward that coincided with Washington’s announcement of lifting sanctions on Syria.
