The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 has not ended Syria’s security challenges, as episodes of sectarian violence and Islamic State resurgence persist, exacerbated by foreign fighters embedded within fragmented militia networks. Initial international efforts to expel foreign fighters fell short, leading to a policy shift toward integrating select foreign fighters into the Syrian military under the newly formed 84th Division. The integration of transnational militants into Syria’s defense forces raises significant regional security concerns, notably for Israel and China, due to the fighters’ operational expertise. The presence and potential defection of disaffected foreign fighters to violent non-state actors, such as ISIS and al-Qaeda, poses a persistent threat to Syria’s fragile transition and both regional and international security.
Stateless Fighters, Stated Goals: Syria’s Precarious Balancing Act – The Soufan Center
