In Europe there are talks of Westerns taking part as fighters in Syria, alongside Islamic fighters close to al-Qaeda, like ISIL and al-Nusra, with the threat of these fighters one day returning to their home countries, Al Arabiya TV reported
On the other hand there are other groups fighting alongside Assad, including the Lebanese, Iraqis, Yemenis and recently Shiite Afghans.
Informed sources say Afghan Shiites from various areas are being dispatched to Syria by Iranian networks, receiving a salary of $500 a month.
The Free Syrian Army had arrested an Afghan fighter in Syria back in 2012, posting a video clip on the Internet of arresting Afghan fighters. A few weeks later Assad regime fighters also posted a video clip showing Afghan fighters in Syria.
There are three groups of Afghan fighters currently in Syria. Those residing in Iran for years and sent to Syria by this country.
The second group consists of those recruited by Iranian networks from inside Afghanistan and hired for Syria’s frontlines.
The third group, however, are those who were in Syria before the crisis ever began. Some reports number them at around 2,000, and they speak Persian.