US condemns appointment of sanctioned militia leader by Syrian Transitional Government to military position

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States strongly criticized the appointment of a sanctioned Syrian militia leader to a senior position within the New Syrian Army, calling the move a serious misstep that jeopardizes efforts to combat the Islamic State (ISIS) and uphold human rights.

During a press briefing on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce labeled the Syrian Transitional Government’s (STG) decision to appoint Ahmad Fayadh al-Hayes — commonly known as Hatim Abu Shuqra — as commander of the 86th Division “a grave mistake not supported by the United States.”

The 86th Division, operating under the Syrian Ministry of Defense, is responsible for military activities in the provinces of Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor), Hasakah, and Raqqa.

“Abu Shuqra’s extensive record of human rights abuses and leadership of units accused of extrajudicial killings make him unfit for any official position,” Bruce stated. “This appointment undermines the credibility of the Syrian opposition and complicates the broader mission to combat terrorism in the region.”

Al-Hayes, a contentious figure within the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), became the leader of the Liberation and Construction Movement in January 2024. He has been on the US Treasury’s sanctions list since July 2021 for his role as a former commander of Ahrar al-Sharqiya, a group accused of war crimes and human rights violations.

The US Treasury previously implicated the group in the 2019 murder of Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf and several of her aides in northeastern Syria. Al-Hayes is also accused of overseeing a detention facility near Holeb (Aleppo) where detainees were reportedly subjected to torture and extrajudicial executions dating back to 2018.

Despite these accusations, leaders within his factions have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. The STG has yet to publicly respond to the mounting criticism of the appointment.

Human rights advocates and civil society organizations have expressed alarm, warning that legitimizing individuals with such records within official military structures not only fosters impunity but risks alienating international allies.

As of Friday, neither the Ministry of Defense nor the STG issued a statement addressing US concerns.