Brahimi to Security Council: 5,000 Foreign Fighters operate in Syria

Brahimi made the remarks in New York on Monday after briefing the UN Security Council on his mid-September talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Brahimi told the Security Council that the Syrian government estimates there are 5,000 foreign fighters in the country.

“There is no disagreement anywhere that the situation in Syria is extremely bad and getting worse, that it is a threat to the region,” Brahimi said outside the council.

He also stated that there are food shortages as harvests have been destroyed in the fighting between government forces and insurgents, adding that 200 of Syria’s 2,200 schools have been damaged.

He estimated that 1.5 million Syrians have fled their homes due to the 18-month conflict.

In September, Brahimi visited Syria for the first time after the announcement of his appointment in mid-August.