There are around ten Belgian citizens in the Islamist group that ousted Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria last week, according to Belgium's interim Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin (MR).
In a shock chain of events, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured a string of Syrian cities and gained control of the country on Sunday, ending the 13-year reign of dictator Bashar al-Assad. He is believed to be in Moscow now, having fled there along with his family.
Speaking to RTBF on Thursday morning, interim Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin confirmed that there were five to ten Belgian citizens who are members of HTS.
"We are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with other countries' services," Quintin said. "I cannot predict if these individuals will re-radicalise and return here. We should be neither alarmist nor naïve, but follow this with the seriousness it requires."
89 Belgians in the region
The Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAM) has identified 89 Belgians in the Syrian-Iraqi region, including 26 in prison camps in the Kurdish zone, RTBF reported.
HTS appointed Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bachir on Tuesday, who is charged with leading the transition of power. Al-Bachir promised "stability" to the Syrian people, who are exhausted after more than 13 years of war.
Credit: Belga / AFP
"This marks the end of over 50 years of a horrifying dictatorship, and we can share in the joy of the Syrian people," said Quintin. "The transitional authorities' statements are positive so far, but we must continue to observe and analyse developments on the ground."
'No need to panic'
Belgium's outgoing Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) also confirmed the OCAM figures and sought to ease international concerns about HTS.
"HTS does not have an international agenda for the time being, but it does have a regional agenda," he told VRT. "Moreover, leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has broken with al-Qaeda, but is pursuing a more moderate course and is not calling for attacks on the West."
He added that it was possible that the Belgian HTS members adhere to a jihadist ideology. The group is still listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU, but Foreign Ministers will discuss the designation at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
"It is not impossible that it will one day become a discussion partner of the West, in the context of the normalisation of relations with the country," said Van Tigchelt.
