foreign fighters

Islamist-led rebels pose for a picture with a Syria army helicopter on the tarmac at the Nayrab military airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024, after a surprise lightning offensive on November 30.

From fighters to farmers, Chinese Uyghurs settle in Syria

Thousands of Uyghurs from Western China spent 12 years in Syria fighting Islamist terrorists and Assad's army. With Assad gone, they are either incorporating into the Syrian military or civilian life.

Subhi Franjieh 15 June 2025

A fighter loyal to the interim Syrian government poses for a picture outside an armoured vehicle in the Zahra district of Syria's west-central city of Homs on January 4, 2025.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP

Future scenarios and red lines for the foreign fighters in Syria

Alongside the Syrians who ousted Assad in December were Chechens, Uyghurs, Arabs, Europeans, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turks, and Albanians, to name but a few. What next for them?

Abbas Sharifa 28 March 2025

A file photo of ISIS fighters in Syria's Raqqa province. (Reuters)

Repatriating ISIS Foreign Fighters

Since the fall of the “ISIS caliphate,” thousands of European foreign fighters and their families have been stranded in Syria and Iraq. So far, European capitals have been reluctant to repatriate…

Jassem Mohamed – Bonn 15 October 2021

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A municipal worker fixes a sign in Sharm el-Sheikh, as the Egyptian resort town gets ready to host a US-brokered Gaza peace summit, on October 12, 2025.

Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Politics

Gaza ceasefire takes off, but expect turbulence ahead

11 October 2025

Al Majalla lays out four key hurdles to clear to ensure the truce sticks this time around

Brian Katulis

US President Donald Trump greets Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025.

Evan Vucci / AFP

Politics

Can Palestinians trust Donald Trump?

14 October 2025

Only US pressure will ensure that Israel honours the Gaza ceasefire

Omar H. Rahman

Nesma Moharam

Politics

Two years after October 7

06 October 2025

Al Majalla examines the repercussions of Hamas's attack on Israel, which set into motion a series of significant changes and power shifts in the Middle East

Al Majalla - London

Malagasy Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the CAPSAT military unit, reads out a statement in front of the presidential palace, where he announces the army is taking power in Antananarivo on October 14, 2025.

Luis TATO / AFP

Politics

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

14 October 2025

A rapid chain of events led to the president fleeing for his life following deadly clashes with citizens. But what happened is not uncommon for Africa. Al Majalla explains why.

Sergey Eledinov

Iraqi painter and sculptor Dia al-Azzawi

Culture & Social Affairs

Dia Azzawi’s latest murals mourn the ruin of Arab cities

09 October 2025

Iraqi sculptor's epic wall-mounted installations evoke the destruction of Aleppo and Mosul, displayed in Beirut in the shadow of ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Mohamed abi Samra

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LATEST ISSUE

From fighters to farmers, Chinese Uyghurs settle in Syria

Future scenarios and red lines for the foreign fighters in Syria

Repatriating ISIS Foreign Fighters

Gaza ceasefire takes off, but expect turbulence ahead

Can Palestinians trust Donald Trump?

Two years after October 7

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

Dia Azzawi’s latest murals mourn the ruin of Arab cities

OPINIONS

Al Majalla’s Book Watch

After Gaza: what now for the Palestinian national movement?

Madagascar's military coup is part of a wider African trend

What happens when the US government shuts down?

foreign fighters

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