Three  top leaders of armed factions appointed Brig Gens, 3 ranked as  colonels

Syria's new rulers have appointed several foreign fighters, including Uyghurs, a Jordanian, and a Turk, to the country's armed forces in a move to integrate rebel groups into a professional military structure, two Syrian sources said.

Of the 49 military roles announced by the Defence Ministry on Sunday, at least six were given to foreigners, including three ranked as brigadier-generals and three as colonels. The appointments, particularly of jihadists, could raise concerns among foreign governments and Syrian citizens wary of the new administration’s direction, despite promises of tolerance towards Syria's minorities and a commitment to avoid exporting Islamic revolution.

The new leadership, drawn mainly from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, aims to consolidate power following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad on December 8. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, now Syria's de facto ruler, emphasized in a Sunday broadcast that Syria "cannot be run by the mentality of groups and militias".

The integration of foreign fighters into official military ranks reflects the regime’s acknowledgment of their role in the conflict. An HTS source described the appointments as "a small token of recognition for the sacrifices Islamist jihadists gave to our struggle for freedom from Assad's oppression”.

Syria's leadership hinted that foreign fighters and their families might receive Syrian citizenship as recognition for their contributions. The Defence Ministry's announcement, however, did not specify the appointees' nationalities.