Sovereignty Support Movement Sovereignty for West Asia
News from Al Haq, published on the Syrian Observatory, June 5, 2026
Seems like the Pot and the Kettle are engaged in a dispute.
Militants Accuse Damascus of Targeted Harassment
Addressed to the Syrian public and residents of Damascus, the statement accuses the government of orchestrating smear campaigns and selectively targeting foreign fighters—known within Islamist factions as “Muhajiroun” (Emigrants). The authors claim they are being “used and discarded” after years of fighting alongside Syrian opposition forces. **
The group alleges that authorities routinely label dissenting foreign fighters as ISIS affiliates or criminals, weaponizing such accusations against those who refuse to align with current government policies. They further claim that several fighters have been threatened with imprisonment or forced deportation to their home countries without due process.
To bolster their claims, the militants cited cases of Turkish nationals who were extradited to Ankara on ISIS-related charges, despite having originally entered Syria to join anti-government factions.
The statement also attempts to frame the militants as partners of the Syrian public rather than adversaries. Referring to local residents as “Ansar” (Helpers)—a deliberate invocation of early Islamic solidarity—the group calls on Syrians to stand with them against what they describe as government overreach.
This rhetorical shift suggests an effort to broaden their support base at a moment of growing tension with state authorities.
Threat to Withdraw from the Ministry of Defense
In its most consequential warning, the group claims that “a significant number” of foreign fighters currently integrated into the Ministry of Defense are considering resigning en masse. They assert that they represent a substantial share of personnel within certain units of the restructured military.
The militants justify the potential walkout on moral grounds, saying they refuse to be complicit in what they describe as state abuses targeting “our Arab brothers.” They also allege that independent foreign fighters who left organized factions to pursue civilian lives have faced harassment and security crackdowns.
Such a withdrawal would pose a serious challenge to the transitional government’s security strategy, which has relied heavily on integrating former opposition factions—including foreign fighters—into formal state institutions.
A Crisis Rooted in a Year-Long Standoff
The current escalation traces back to a confrontation in May 2024 in Idlib, when the arrest of an Uzbek fighter on criminal charges triggered an armed protest outside a criminal security headquarters. The standoff prompted a sweeping security operation across northern Idlib, including Al-Fouah and Kafriya, resulting in clashes and the arrest of dozens of Uzbek militants.
In the weeks that followed, various Uzbek factions released video statements accusing Syrian authorities of targeting foreign fighters’ families and violating prior legal settlements governing their status. They claimed that raids had affected women and children and that integrated personnel were being subjected to new restrictions.
With this latest communique, the dispute has moved beyond localized grievances. It has evolved into a direct political confrontation that reopens one of the most sensitive questions of the Syrian transition: the future of foreign fighters inside the country.
The militants’ threat to withdraw from the Ministry of Defense underscores the fragility of the transitional government’s security architecture—and raises urgent questions about whether Damascus can maintain cohesion within its newly restructured armed forces.
** Editor’s comment: This is pretty funny. They were among the “Syrian opposition forces”, not beside them…. just like the Uyghurs and the Saudis (like the current President of Syria) and all the rest of the ISIS and Al Qaeda forces.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
