Saifiddin Tajiboyev, a native of Tajikistan wanted in his home country for terrorism, mercenary activities, and participation in armed conflicts abroad, has been appointed commander of the operations headquarters in the Ministry of Defense of Syria's new government, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported on January 6.
Radio Ozodi reported this, citing bloggers close to the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has seized power in Syria.
Tajiboyev, aged 41, is from Spitamen district in the Tajik northern province of Sughd. He reportedly was one of the military commanders of the group Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, which fought alongside Hayat Tahrir al-Sham against the forces of Bashar al-Assad. Most militants in this group originate from Central Asian countries, according to Radio Ozodi.
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Congregation of Monotheism and Jihad), abbreviated as JTJ or Jama'at, was a Salafi jihadist militant group. It was founded in Jordan in 1999, and was led by Jordanian national Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for the entirety of its existence. During the Iraqi insurgency (2003–11), the group became a decentralized network with foreign fighters with a considerable Iraqi membership.
On October 17, 2004, al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, and the group became known as Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (commonly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq or Tanzim). After several mergers with other groups and the formation of the Mujahideen Shura Council, it changed its name several times until it called itself Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) in 2006.
Radio Ozodi reports that Tajik bloggers affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham announced on social media on January 3 that Tajiboyev had assumed his new role. They also noted that he was awarded the rank of colonel following his appointment. It remains unclear whether he has obtained Syrian citizenship.
Meanwhile, the transitional government of Syria, established on December 9, 2024, the day after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, has neither confirmed nor denied this news.
However, Reuters reported on December 31 that foreign militants had been given positions in Syria’s armed forces. Radio Ozodi reports that according to a source cited by Reuters, 6 out of 50 positions in the new Syrian Ministry of Defense were allocated to foreign militants.
A source in Tajikistan's security forces told Radio Ozodi on January 5 that they were aware of Tajiboyev’s appointment.
"Since 2013, Tajiboyev, along with his brother, has been in Syria, participating in battles on the side of terrorist groups. He also recruited others into his ranks. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him, and he is wanted," the source added.
On the website of Tajikistan’s National Bank (NBT), Tajiboyev is listed as a person linked to terrorism, with all financial transactions involving him prohibited.
Tajik government media have repeatedly identified Tajiboyev as a recruiter of Tajik citizens for participation in foreign armed conflicts. Authorities stated that between 2013 and 2017, more than 2,000 Tajik nationals traveled to fight in Syria and Iraq. Tajik militants in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were primarily based in the Syrian province of Idlib, controlled by the group since 2015. Tajik authorities reported that nearly 400 Tajik citizens were in Idlib.
