The Syrian government’s effort to integrate foreign fighters into its armed forces may be unraveling.

On May 5, Syrian authorities arrested 16 Uzbek fighters following a standoff with armed members of the Uzbek community in the northwestern province of Idlib. The confrontation erupted after Syrian security forces detained an Uzbek fighter in the Syrian army for looting, prompting dozens of Uzbek militants to surround the security headquarters in Idlib. Clashes also erupted between government forces and Uzbek fighters in the Idlib village of Kafraya. Uzbek jihadists, most notably members of Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Battalion of Monotheism and Jihad), a U.S.- designated terrorist organization, have preserved their extremist affiliations and demonstrated questionable loyalty despite the accommodating stance of the government in Damascus.

Most of the foreign fighters were part of the jihadist coalition under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa that ousted the Bashar al-Assad regime. Now president, Sharaa previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a force that emerged from al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria. After taking power, Sharaa rapidly integrated thousands of foreign fighters into the country’s new armed forces. Syrian defense ministry sources told Reuters last year that Sharaa defended this approach to Western skeptics on the grounds that excluding the foreign fighters would drive them back to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.

Idlib Clashes Not a One-Off

The showdown in Idlib was only one of many clashes between the state and foreign jihadists. In October 2025, Syrian government forces launched an operation in the Harem camp near Idlib against foreign jihadists from Firqat al-Ghuraba (Foreigners Brigade), led by Omar Omsen, a U.S.- designated terrorist wanted by France for recruiting French nationals to fight in Syria. The clashes reportedly erupted after members of the group kidnapped a French girl in the camp and planned to extort her mother, which prompted Syrian forces to intervene. In response, Omsen called on foreign fighters across Syria to mobilize against the government.

Firqat al-Ghuraba has established a parallel policing system within its camp, holding trials and issuing sentences outside the authority of the Syrian state.

U.S.-Designated Terrorist Groups Remain in Syrian Army

The Syrian government originally sought to institutionalize the foreign groups by integrating segments of them into the military and security apparatus in an attempt to impose greater discipline through state control.

However, the ideological extremism of some of these factions — and their alleged involvement in massacres against religious minorities — has exposed the serious risks of this policy.

For example, Damascus integrated the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), a Uyghur jihadist group, into the Syrian army’s 84th Division, a unit reportedly composed largely of foreign fighters. TIP maintained longstanding ties to al-Qaeda, fighting alongside the group in Afghanistan before 2001, while its current emir, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, sits on al-Qaeda’s Shura Council. In 2015, TIP fighters desecrated churches in Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib.

Another faction integrated into the 84th Division is Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (Brigade of Emigrants and Supporters), a U.S.- designated Salafi-jihadist group comprising fighters from Arab countries as well as the North Caucasus. Sharaa promoted to the rank of colonel its commander, Dhu al-Qarnayn Zanour Abdul Hameed, who now serves as a commander within the 84th Division.

U.S. Should Use Leverage of Review Process To Press for Change

“Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria,” the White House press secretary posted last year following President Donald Trump’s first meeting with Sharaa. Trump had praised Sharaa and committed to lifting sanctions on Syria to facilitate its recovery. Trump demanded no formal concessions in return, but the White House made clear its reservations about Syria integrating jihadists.

Despite these concerns, Washington has never made progress in U.S.-Syrian relations conditional on Sharaa addressing the problem. The United States still retains leverage through Syria’s designation since 1979 as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), a status Washington has been reviewing since December 2025. The United States should use the leverage provided by the SST review process to pressure Damascus to remove or demote foreign fighters within its security forces, particularly members of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations serving in the Syrian army. Additionally, Washington should press Damascus to refrain from deploying these factions to sensitive areas where sectarian tensions remain acute.

Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE . Follow FDD on X @FDD . Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi . FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

Just when you think that matters cannot get crazier, reality hits you in the face and proves that indeed it can.

As our “yekke” German compatriots would declare, the situation we face these days is unglaublich (unbelievable).

Surveying the current scene, one cannot help but be bamboozled by the uncontrollable avalanche of idiocy and inconsistency that prevails in all parts of the world.

In Gaza, we have a stalemate with Hamas still calling the shots and recruiting new martyrs.

In Lebanon, we have a so-called ceasefire, which means that Hezbollah continues to fire drones and missiles at Israel.

The Iranians are doing what they do best, which is dragging out the conflict for as long as possible in the expectation that Trump will blink first.

In the United Kingdom, jihadist Islamists are busy targeting Jews while the political establishment piously pontificates.

In Australia, the Government hopes that a Royal Commission will solve the problem of Islamic extremism, even if the “I” word is never mentioned as one of the primary causes of Jew hate.

In Germany, the head of the Jewish Students Union stated that German Universities are riddled with antisemitism. Despite that, he believes that there is still a “future” for Jews in Germany and Europe.

The flotilla of fools bringing non-existent aid to Gaza ended amidst the usual hoopla and accusations against Israel.

Analysing each event individually, we can discern a clear pattern.

Gaza, according to the hallucinatory visions of some, is supposed to miraculously transform from a cesspit of terror to a paradise where casinos, hotels and holiday resorts will provide rest and relaxation to the multitudes.

A misnamed “Board of Peace” is supposed to neutralise Hamas, disarm them and convert them to apostles of peace partners, ready, able and willing to embrace living side by side in tolerance with the Zionist entity.

These messianic visions concocted by the American Administration and foisted on a sceptical Israeli coalition and terror-targeted public were always going to collapse when faced with cold, hard reality. Hamas has no intention of disarming or transforming into doves because their whole ideology is based on eliminating any vestige of Jewish sovereignty. The tragedy we face is that gullible “peaceniks” and hypocritical politicians continue to believe in a utopia that can never be realised.

Lebanon is another example of wishful thinking and unrealistic expectations. Those who believe that a country which has been hijacked by Iran and is held hostage by Hezbollah will miraculously make peace with Israel are delusional. The Americans believe that there is a ceasefire, but reality tells a different story. Every day, there are missiles and drones launched against Israeli civilians.

This dire situation proves exactly how diplomacy and calls to de-escalate by Macron and Albanese result in chaos and more terror. As long as Iran retains a stranglehold over Lebanon, there is not the slightest prospect of peace breaking out.

Meanwhile, the Iranian farce continues to unravel at breakneck speed.

A commentator remarked that Iran has a high threshold for economic and other pain, whereas the USA’s ability to absorb pain is limited. This is already borne out by the fact that polls show an increasing opposition to the war against Iran and rising hysteria about the price of petrol and its economic ramifications. All Iran has to do is hold on and wait for the Democrats, joined by isolationist Republicans, to abort the campaign.

Imagine if Churchill and Roosevelt had unilaterally stopped the war against Germany, Japan and its allies and offered to sit down with that axis of evil for “talks” about a permanent ceasefire. Yet this cockeyed scenario is currently being played out by the White House. Every sane and sensible individual knows that a ceasefire for the likes of Iran and its terror proxies simply means an opportunity to rearm, regroup and reorganise for the next round.

Trump maintains that the Iranian navy and defence forces are decimated and destroyed. If that is actually the case, perhaps someone could give an explanation of how Iran is still able to control the Strait of Hormuz, intercept tankers, fire missiles at the Gulf and dictate terms. How is Iran able to clear rubble from underground tunnels and replenish its missile stockpile? Why is the hidden uranium still in Iranian hands?

Contradictory assertions from the White House notwithstanding, why is Iran still able to plot and carry out terror by its proxies in foreign countries? It has been reported that the US President proclaimed this week: “if the Mullahs misbehave and if they do something bad, the USA will renew military action against Iran.” With news that the Mullahs are continuing to execute opponents, threaten freedom of navigation, oppress minorities, fan the flames of terror and initiate further mayhem, what more proof does Trump need to finish the job?

The Mullahs and IRGC are calling everyone’s bluff. If this farce of a ceasefire results in a continuation of the Islamic Republic, it will prepare the ground for a cataclysmic disaster in the near future.

The United Kingdom has become the latest example of how refusing to tackle the core menace of Jew hate is making the country an untenable place for Jewish life to flourish in safety. Platitudes are no substitute for a lack of will in the face of clear and evident incitement against Jews. Weekly anti-Israel demonstrations accompanied by vile slogans have become a standard part of life in major cities. This torrent of abuse inevitably results in toxic violence.

Although many in the Jewish community now realise the dangers facing them, incredibly, there are still some who are oblivious to what lies ahead. Obviously, the lessons of the recent past in Europe have not percolated through to everyone.

In Australia, the Royal Commission has issued an interim report and is now hearing submissions. The interim report, quite frankly, did not reveal anything previously unknown and avoided pinpointing the main source of the hate now infecting what was once the “lucky country.” The Government and authorities know very well where Jew hate is being brewed and incubated, and therefore avoiding the “I” word and jihadist connections is a self-defeating exercise. This commission is an exercise in public relations and an effort to prove that something is being done.

Pushing the can to the end of the year is a cop out. Reforming gun laws and increasing security are band aids covering a situation rapidly becoming chronic. Why is it that only Jews and their buildings need to be guarded by armed forces? Who are they being protected from? It is known that Iranian Embassies are being used to promote terror. The Iranian Ambassador in Canberra was expelled. Why is the Embassy still operating in Australia? Are hate preachers being expelled or arrested? Are there any consequences for teaching and preaching hate against Jews in schools and places of worship?

Once again, as in the UK and elsewhere, political posturing, summit meetings, and rhetoric take the place of firm action and dealing with the sources of hate.

Pretending that there is no problem by ignoring it is no answer to the looming threats.

One would have thought that, given recent history, the head of the German Jewish Students Union would have doubts about a Jewish future in Germany and Europe. Yet, despite his assertion that German universities are riddled with Jew hate, he still sees a future there.

In 1933, when my late father was expelled from a German university, he saw the writing on the wall and initiated steps to leave the country. Others thought it would all blow over, could be combated, or that the hate was exaggerated. It seems that 93 years later, nothing much has changed.

The fake aid flotilla to Gaza made recent headlines. Crewed by a motley crowd of anti-Israel misfits and professional agitators, this armada hoped to garner international attention. Their aim was, as always, to portray Gaza as suffering from mass starvation when, in actual fact, abundant food and other supplies are entering that territory via Israel. Their other objective was to dramatise any Israeli interception and hope that scenes of violence would galvanise more waves of antipathy towards the Jewish State.

None of these aims was achieved.

The vessels were intercepted and their crews offloaded in Greece. A couple of ringleaders have been transported to Israel for interrogation. As expected, claims of injury and torture have been made against Israel. This is a standard tactic peddled by anti-Israel agitators when they are caught in the act, and as usual, the media had a field day.

As expected, the aid purportedly being transported was a fictitious mirage. However, condoms and drugs were discovered. Hopefully, the non-delivery of these essential items will not cause too much distress in Gaza.

A clear pattern of denial, refusal to pinpoint culpability, fear of offending electoral sectors and verbal acrobatics is apparent.

Incomprehensible and unbelievable do not adequately describe the stark realities we currently confront.

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various community organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is -Wire’s correspondent in the region.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ignited a diplomatic firestorm between South Korea and Israel.

He made false claims and hurled insulting and lurid accusations at Israel, combined with profoundly offensive Holocaust parallels as Israel commemorated Yom HaShoah that same week, remembering the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis during World War II.

All of this was based on a story from 2024, generated by a fake account as a legitimate current event. The Israeli Foreign Ministry swiftly reacted, expressing regret over Lee’s failing to mention attacks against Israeli civilians, including attacks by Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups.

Instead of de-escalating, Lee’s ruling South Korean Democratic Party issued further allegations of behavior contradicting international law and human rights, blaming the current U.S-Iran conflict on alleged Israeli influence.

Whether a diplomatic blunder or cynical political gambit, the relentless South Korean escalation based on fake news is unprecedented.

Since its creation, South Korea has balanced its relations with Israel and Muslim states in the Middle East. South Korea has had relations with Israel since 1948, elevated to full official diplomatic relations in 1962.

In the early 1960s, South Korea made the transition from export substitution to export-led growth. Bicycle repair shops turned into global corporations. South Korea achieved the Han River Miracle, astounding economic development spanning just a few decades. As South Korea became dominant in producing everything from cars to chips and ships, its economy grew increasingly dependent on fossil fuel.

After the first oil crisis in 1973, Korean construction companies aggressively explored markets in Middle Eastern countries flooded with oil money, earning about $70 billion from 1973 to 1985.

Although Israel closed its embassy in Seoul in 1978 due to South Korea’s favoring of Israel’s neighbors, the Israeli mission reopened in 1992. Driven by economic pragmatism and determination to become a responsible member of the international community, before Lee’s recent diplomatic faux pas, South Korea had generally maintained a neutral and balanced approach to Israel and all other Middle Eastern countries.

South Korea has earned exceptional capital on the world stage. One of the world’s poorest countries after the 1950-1953 Korean War, it has literally gone from rags to riches and has emerged as an economic and cultural powerhouse.

Korean movies, TV drama, K-culture and K-pop have taken the world by storm. South Korean bands such as BTS have followership in the range of tens of millions. K-pop is a global cultural phenomenon.

Once a recipient of international humanitarian, development and security assistance, South Korea has now become a provider of assistance throughout the Global South. South Korea has firmly established its authority as a leading middle power.

Why then would Lee break with the tradition of neutral, balanced diplomacy in the Middle East?

In a post-Cold War world of tension and conflict, South Korea has been an arsenal of democracy. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, South Korea signed significant arms deals with Poland and Romania for K2 tanks, K9 howitzers and rocket launchers. A NATO delegation recently traveled to Seoul to explore deepening the partnership amidst Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and North Korea’s ever-escalating nuclear and missile threats.

In sharp contrast to South Korea, North Korea has been on the side of the “axis of tyranny.”

North Korea supports Iran in its conflict with Israel. That conflict was triggered by Teheran’s nuclear ambitions, its arsenal of ballistic missiles, and its instigation of proxy Hamas’ mass murder, rape and hostage-taking of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. A spokesperson for the Kim regime has even called Israel a “cancer-like entity for the peace in the Middle East.”

More than one-third of South Korea’s population is Christian. That said, the relatively recent South Korean Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic, arrived with no antisemitic baggage, in contrast with Europe and other places in the world.

However, anti-Semitism is deeply embedded in the ideology of North Korea. In its official yearbooks, its “political dictionary” and other publications,

North Korea completely ignores Israel’s pre-1948 multi-millennial history. Instead, since the days of Kim Il-sung, Kim regime propaganda has claimed that “Israel was created in May 1948 by American and British imperialists through the partition of Palestine.”

Iran has depended on North Korean ballistic missiles, other weapons and tunneling know-how to achieve its fundamental strategic objectives: regional hegemony and the extinction of the state of Israel.

North Korea needs Iranian money to achieve its fundamental strategic objective: survival through the ultimate establishment of hegemony over the entire Korean peninsula. To achieve that goal, it needs money to keep its core elites happy and to continue developing its tools of death, despite sanctions by the U.N., the United States and others.

Is Lee’s South Korea now aligned with the Kim regime’s anti-Israeli stance? Is South Korea no longer a reliable diplomatic middle power? Or is there still hope that Koreans and Jews can overcome this diplomatic disaster, bring together their homelands and diaspora, in a spirit of mutual respect, honor and trust?

Abraham Cooper is chair emeritus of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and associate dean and director of Global Social Action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Greg Scarlatoiu is president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.

 

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Most of Europe and a majority of UN Members suffer from a severe case of OCD.

This disease, when left untreated, slowly and insidiously progresses through various stages until it becomes chronic and endemic. It renders those afflicted unable to discern between fact and fiction and as a consequence causes them to think that lies are valid and the truth somehow suspect.

In recent years this malady has developed a particularly vicious mutation which now manifests itself whenever Israel, Zionism or Jews are the subjects under discussion.

The symptoms are so severe that whenever any of these subjects arise, Pavlov like reactions can be guaranteed.

One of the most prominent features of this affliction is its ability to ignore reality and imminent threats and concentrate instead on the bogeyman represented by a Jewish sovereign presence in its historical territory.

Examples abound and last week is no exception.

The epidemic of human rights abuses and abusers threatening the lives of minorities throughout the world is a crisis that cannot be ignored. Wherever one looks, on almost every continent, there are daily reports of horrific targeting against women, ethnic and religious groups and political opponents of tyrannical regimes.

Christians in Africa are being slaughtered by jihadist terrorists while the re-education camps in North Korea and Communist China are home to countless men, women and even youngsters whose political or religious views do not meet the approval of the ruling regime.

Thousands of Iranians have been murdered for the “crime” of opposing the Mullahs and executions of those deemed undesirable and a perceived threat are carried out on almost a daily basis.

Despite these and many other such situations the United Nations remains mute and the head of the Roman Catholic Church is nowhere to be heard.

Actually they can be heard but their voices are usually raised in damning the “born in sin” Israelis. Whilst not actually singing hymns of praise to the real oppressors in Tehran and elsewhere their choice of targeting those “perfidious” Jews rather than the real criminals is telling.

It portrays an obsessive compulsive disorder when they side with Macron and fellow travelers for example and blame Israel for defending itself against Hezbollah terrorists firing drones and missiles from Lebanon. Ignoring the declared agenda of this Iranian funded and supported group which is to eliminate Israel and blame Israel for defending itself is purely and simply a bad case of OCD.

When the Vatican pontificates against thwarting Iranian intentions to nuke Israel, it demonstrates a moral blindness and historical amnesia on a grand scale.

Not so many centuries ago the Crusaders with Papal blessings set out to liberate the Holy Land from the clutches of the evil Islamic forces. In the process, they decimated entire Jewish communities in Europe and murdered thousands of Jews as a bonus in their campaign of salvation.

You can say that those were different times but when one hears the rhetoric emanating from the Vatican these days one has to wonder whether times have really changed that much.

There has been a ruckus over Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision contest. A concerted effort to have Israel banned failed to achieve its objective and as a result Israel will be taking part. Of course in some sort of appeasing gesture it was decided to change the voting rules which most probably will result in Israel’s entry being prevented from actually winning this time. Nevertheless, the fact that Israel was not banned is a victory of some sort.

The fallout has already descended.

Three countries, with impeccable anti Israel qualifications, have decided that rather than participate in the annual competition they will boycott it. Walking out of the contest in a broigus huff can be classified as childish but their next decision lays bare their OCD infection.

The three countries concerned are Ireland, Spain and Slovenia.

They have decided not to broadcast the actual events thus depriving their viewers the opportunity of watching the proceedings. In a move more reminiscent of dictatorial regimes, the citizens of these three nations will be deprived from exercising their democratic rights of freedom to access the media.

One country (Slovenia) will instead show films about “Palestine” which no doubt will drip feed more poisonous drivel to the watching public.

Spain meanwhile has supercharged its anti Israel agenda. It is demanding that the European Union cancel its economic agreement with Israel. This is the same Prime Minister who has denied USA access to bases in its war against Iranian terror.

If you think that this is deranged then what about the exploding and burning of an effigy of Israel’s Prime Minister which took place in Spain recently? Spain of course has a long history of targeting Jews and burning them at the stake. The inquisition after all was the forerunner of today’s IRGC in Iran who torture and murder those whom they despise.

Ireland as we know is a leader in the anti Israel and Jew hate tsunami. This country which offered its condolences to the German Ambassador in Dublin on Hitler’s demise and refused to participate in the war against the Nazis has a shameful track record.

Of course when it comes to blatant hypocrisy the British are experts in this particular expertise. Despite abundant evidence that the IRGC have plotted, planned and executed terror attacks in the UK (and elsewhere), the UK Government has been reluctant to designate it as a terrorist group. It was only this April (last month) that legislation was promised to be introduced at the next session of parliament. It should be noted that this will “allow” the Government to ban the IRGC if it deems it necessary. This procrastination and lack of urgency in the face of daily threats to British Jews speaks for itself.

The Foreign Office has never really managed to get over its disappointment that following the end of the Mandate in 1948 the outnumbered and outgunned Jews survived the preplanned genocidal onslaught launched by Arab countries opposed to any Jewish sovereignty.

That is why it comes as no surprise to see over 60 former UK ambassadors demanding that Israel be censured and punished for permitting Jews to live in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. One wonders if these same individuals have also found the time to condemn Iran for its flagrant human rights abuses and patronage of terror groups.

OCD is of course not confined to politicians and ex diplomats. It has infected the misinformed masses as well which is why demonstrations, protests, boycotts sanctions and delegitimization of Israel are regular features in cities worldwide.

I have just finished reading a most interesting autobiography of an Iranian man. He was born, grew up and educated in Iran before the Islamic revolution. Eventually he joined the Imperial Iranian Navy after having qualified as a marine engineer. He and his family were Muslims but what distinguished them from many others was the fact that they were tolerant of other faiths which Islam called “infidels.” This tolerant attitude meant that they embraced the reforms introduced by the Shah as he attempted to modernize the country.

The climax of this autobiography is a recounting of how the educated class in Iran either ignored or did not believe that one day a devastating tsunami of Islamic fundamentalist fanatics would depose the Shah and take control of the country. In an instant, Iran was transformed from a country where religious and ethnic minorities were respected to a country where Jihadist terror held sway.

From one moment to the next his years of devoted service to the country branded him as a criminal threat to the regime and marked him and his family for arrest, torture and execution.

His escape from Iran with his wife and children is a riveting narrative.

This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to learn how a nation can descend from tolerance to intolerance in the blink of an eye. It parallels the descent of Germany in the 1930’s and its campaign of terror and genocide.

If you can find this book I highly recommend it.

It is called “Escaping Islam” by Mano Bakh.

His most telling remark is “The evil might not be realized until it is too late.”

History has a bad habit of repeating itself.

Are we going to repeat the same fatal mistakes of the recent past because we do not want to confront evil in time?