Foreign Fighter Involvement in Syria

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By Ms. J. Skidmore, ICT

As the conflict in Syria approaches its third year, increasing attention is being paid to the various non-state militant actors on the battlefield. Specifically, a growing interest and concern surrounds the alarming number of foreign fighters (FFs) in Syria who have volunteered to fight either for the government of Bashar al-Assad or for one of the various rebel factions.

Conservative estimates of FFs who have entered Syria in the past two years place the number between 6,000 and 12,000. This number is far greater than the number of FFs seen in previous conflicts such as Bosnia and Chechnya in the 1990s, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan in the 2000s, and more recently, in Somalia, Yemen, and Mali.

Though the fighters in Syria are predominantly Arab Muslims, individuals have come from over 60 nations and include Westerners from Europe, Australia, and the U.S. Despite Western-backing for moderate rebel groups, such as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), extremist opposition groups, such as those linked to al-Qaeda (AQ), appear both more cohesive and financially sound.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Either as a result of or in conjunction with this, many FFs are flocking to these groups, often dominating leadership positions and adding a global dimension to the groups’ image, as their presence indicates the groups’ goals transcend local issues. The presence of FFs underscores the increasingly global nature of the conflict, and in the case of those volunteering for AQ-linked groups, perpetuates the supposedly global call for jihad.

Many questions arise from these startling numbers, not least of which are those concerned with the threats posed by these FFs. According to former CIA analyst, Michael Scheur, the threats the FFs pose to their home countries are “clearly more serious today than ever before.” If the FF presents such serious threats, a more thorough exploration of the term and its specific development in Syria is needed. Moreover, questions such as, ‘what are these threats?’ and ‘why has Syria become such a magnet for FFs?’ demand attention. Understanding the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘how,’ and ‘why’ elements of FFs in Syria is essential in order to develop an effective counter strategy.

In the full report the writer examines the term “foreign fighters” and suggests reasons for their large-scale involvement in Syria – the sectarian nature of the conflict and the lack of U.S. military action, among others. Ms. Skidmore concludes by discussing several policies on the issue, and suggests ways of countering the foreign fighter threat.

Click here to read the full report in PDF format