Wednesday, July 22, 2026
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The foreign fighters who helped topple Assad — and why China worries about them

Thousands of Uyghurs became key fighters against Syria's Assad regime. For the first time, they agreed to be interviewed. NPR spent weeks with some of them to understand why they fled China for Syria.

The foreign fighters who helped topple Assad — and why China worries about them
Image: NPR World

Thousands of Uyghurs became key fighters against Syria's Assad regime. For the first time, they agreed to be interviewed. NPR spent weeks with some of them to understand why they fled China for Syria.

(Image credit: Emily Feng)

Originally published at NPR World

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