Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jun 4: In a dramatic shift in US policy, President Donald Trump has approved Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s controversial plan to induct foreign jihadists into Syria’s restructured military.

Once aligned with ISIS, al-Sharaa now heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which broke ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016 and rebranded as a political opposition group to the Assad regime. Trump, after meeting al-Sharaa in Riyadh last month, lifted long-standing Assad-era sanctions and appointed close aide Thomas Barrack as Special Envoy to Syria.

Barrack confirmed the decision, saying many of the jihadists are ‘very loyal’ to al-Sharaa’s government, and integrating them is a safer option than risking their return to extremist groups like ISIS.

Around 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs, will join the newly formed 84th Syrian Army Division alongside Syrian troops. Despite concerns in Western capitals, sources say Damascus views this move as a calculated step to stabilize the region and prevent renewed radicalisation.