Two Belgians a week leave for Syria

An estimated 481 Belgian residents are involved in the conflict in Syria, 55 of whom have been killed, according to new figures from historian Pieter Van Ostaeyen, reports Het Laatste Nieuws. The Belgian authorities maintain a lower total, but admit that there are on average at least two Belgians departing for the war-torn area every week.

Van Ostaeyen’s figures take into account all residents who have left Belgium since the beginning of the conflict in Syria more than four years ago, in order to fight there or in Iraq. About 90% of the fighters are men, with an average age of 25.5 years. Brussels is the largest ‘supplier’ by far with 83 fighters, followed by Antwerp (66) and Vilvoorde (28).

The official total cited by the interior ministry remains at 380 fighters, including about 200 in Syria or Iraq. According to the ministry, 50 have officially been killed, while another 100 fighters have returned to Belgium and about 40 are being held at the Turkish-Syrian border.

The Belgian recruits are being called upon to join the front against the government forces of Syria President Bashar Assad.