HTS appoints foreign extremists to top positions in new Syrian army
More than 40,000 foreign fighters from over 100 countries traveled to Syria during the war to fight for UN-designated terror groups, including the Nusra Front and ISIS
The interim Syrian government has promoted seven foreign fighters from extremist groups formerly linked to Al-Qaeda to the ranks of lieutenant and colonel as part of a series of promotions announced on 30 December.
The Syrian Defense Ministry announced the promotions in a letter signed by Ahmad al-Sharaa (previously known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), who became Syria’s new de facto leader and commander-in-chief of the Syrian armed forces after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month.
Sharaa formerly led the Al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front, which he founded in Syria under the direction of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2011. The Nusra Front later changed its name to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
According to the US State Department, more than 40,000 foreign fighters from over 100 countries traveled to Syria to fight for UN-designated terror groups, including the Nusra Front and ISIS.
Now, many are receiving high positions in the new Syrian army.
According to the letter, Jordanian citizen Abd al-Rahman Hussein Khatib has been promoted to lieutenant in the new Syrian army.
Khatib, also known as Abu Hussein Jordani, is of Palestinian origin and has close relations with HTS leader Sharaa. He graduated from a medical college at the University of Jordan and came to fight in Syria in 2013. Khatib is responsible for monitoring conflicts between armed groups and currently serves on HTS’s military council.
Abd al-Aziz Daud Khudaberdi, also known as Abu Mohammed Turkistani, is a native of Turkistan and has been promoted to lieutenant.
Omar Mohammed Ciftci, also known as Mukhtar Turki, is a Turkish national who has become a lieutenant.
Abdel Samriz Bishari, an Albanian, has been promoted to colonel.
Maulana Tirson Abdul Samad, a native of Tajikistan, became a colonel.
Ala Mohamed Abdul Baqi, an Egyptian, was promoted to colonel.
Ibn Ahmad Hariri, a Jordanian, became a colonel.
The decree was issued within the framework of the “process of development and renewal of the Syrian army and armed forces.”
The promotions are “to continue the spirit of commitment and dedication to the service of religion and the country,” the decree said.
Syrian nationals who fought with Sharaa and HTS have also received promotions.
Murhaf Abu Qasra, who has been promoted to lieutenant, is currently serving as defense minister in the Syrian interim government until March.
Abu Qasra previously served as commander-in-chief of the HTS military wing.
He was also one of the most prominent leaders of the Military Operations Directorate, which led the lightning assault to topple the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Damascus.