This is a preliminary list of the names of the non-Syrian foreign mercenary fighters who joined Jabhat al-Nusra/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (al-Qaeda) and now control key positions in the Syrian state:
Aziz Khodabardi (Abu Muhammad al-Turkistani), Turkestani nationality, Brigadier General.
– Abdel Samriz Yashari (Abu Qatada al-Albani), from North Macedonia, Colonel.
– Alaa Muhammad Abdel Baqi (Abu Muhammad Diaa), Egyptian nationality, Colonel.
– Abdel Rahman al-Khatib (Abu Hussein al-Urduni), Jordanian nationality, Brigadier General.
– Omar Muhammad Jaftchi (Mukhtar al-Turki): Commander of the “Damascus Military Division,” Turkish nationality.
– Abdullah Shahada: Lebanese nationality. Appointed head of Syrian intelligence in Homs Governorate and the coastal regions.
– Youssef Qablawi: CEO of Syrian Petroleum, Palestinian-American nationality.
– Marwan al-Hussein: Tunisian national, head of the Syrian Drama Committee.
– Ibrahim Sukkarieh (Abu Maryam al-Australi): Australian-Lebanese national. He effectively manages the Syrian sovereign wealth fund and heads the committee for settlements with businessmen of the former regime and the confiscated funds.
