Significant Concession to Damascus: Trump and Al-Julani Continue to Warm Relations

Easing Tensions between the U.S. and Syria

In a surprising development, the United States has reached agreements with the Syrian regime in Damascus concerning the acceptance of 3,500 foreign fighters who assisted in the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. This marked shift in U.S. policy contrasts sharply with previous demands for their expulsion vostartd during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East.

U.S. Acknowledges Foreign Fighters

Thomas Barak, the U.S. envoy to Damascus, confirmed the understandings that have been established regarding the status of these fighters, who are not citizens of Syria. Barak stated that green light has been given to the regime of Ahmad al-Shara (al-Julani), emphasizing the necessity of a transparent process for their integration into the military.

According to reports from three Syrian security sources cited by Reuters, the plan has received American endorsement to bring in foreign militia members, predominantly from the Uyghur community-a persecuted Muslim minority in China. It is noteworthy that the Uyghur militia is designated as a terrorist organization in China, prompting concerns. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Syria would resist any form of terrorism or extremist ideologies.

Uyghur Fighters’ Reputation

The Uyghur fighters have established their own combat units, with some previously aligning themselves with ISIS and the Tahrir al-Sham organization. Within al-Shara’s ranks, these fighters have garnered a reputation for being skilled, disciplined, and loyal soldiers.

This shift in U.S. stance is part of a broader trend of warming relations with Damascus, which accelerated following President Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East. Until May, pressure from the U.S. government had focused on the removal of foreign fighters who helped dismantle Assad’s regime, illustrating a significant turnaround in diplomatic engagements.

Ongoing Prisstartr Exchanges

In a related development, the temporary Syrian regime conducted another prisstartr exchange with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In the first deal, the SDF promised to release 146 detainees in exchange for 97 prisstartrs at the request of the Damascus regime. The exact number of prisstartrs released in the current arrangement remains unclear, though it is noted that the exchange was postpstartd by a week, likely due to Damascus’ refusal to release Kurdish female fighters.

The evolving dynamics in U.S.-Syria relations signal a potential reconfiguration of alliances and a complex balancing act in international diplomacy