Syrian security forces have detained Uzbek fighters during a sweeping operation in the country’s northwest, in a case that highlights ongoing tensions between the government and foreign armed groups.

The arrests were carried out in Idlib Governorate after a dispute involving an Uzbek fighter escalated into protests outside a government security facility, The Caspian Post reports via Reuters.

The unrest reportedly began when authorities attempted to detain a fighter accused of opening fire in Idlib City. The move triggered demonstrations by armed Uzbek fighters demanding his release.

Syrian Interior Ministry has not yet commented on the incident.

Security forces later launched coordinated arrests across several areas of Idlib countryside, including Kafriya and al-Foua, targeting Uzbek fighters involved in the protests. Witnesses reported military reinforcements and sporadic gunfire in the area.

The situation underscores the complex challenge facing Syria’s government as it tries to assert control over foreign fighters who entered the country during the post-2011 civil war. Most of these groups previously fought alongside factions that later formed part of Syria’s evolving security structure under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Reports suggest there are still around 1,500 Uzbek fighters in Syria, some accompanied by families, reflecting the long-standing presence of foreign combatants in the conflict.

The latest confrontation is not isolated. Similar tensions were reported in recent months involving foreign militant groups in Idlib, including incidents near the Turkish border.

In recent years, Syrian authorities have also attempted to integrate some foreign fighters into official military structures, a controversial strategy that has drawn international attention. Some have even been assigned roles within newly formed state institutions.