Russian fighter in Syria's Idlib swaps weapons for wasabi

Islam Shakhbanov, a fighter from Russia's Muslim-majority Dagestan republic, outdoors his sushi restaurant in Syria's rebel-held metropolis of Idlib. AFP

A Russian fighter in Syria has put down his weapons to open a small sushi restaurant within the rebel-held north-west of Syria, the place the waning battle has left combatants and not using a supply of revenue.

Islam Shakhbanov, 37, from Russia's Muslim-majority Dagestan republic, mentioned he headed to Syria in 2015 to participate within the conflict.

However after years of battle, President Bashar Al Assad's authorities has regained management of a lot of the nation and Syria's fundamental entrance traces have largely frozen, placing many overseas fighters out of a job.

“Ultimately I opened this sushi restaurant,” Mr Shakhbanov mentioned, standing close to an commercial banner displaying a fish, with slogans in Arabic, English and Russian.

Mr Shakhbanov mentioned he fought alongside extremist factions amongst Syrian opposition teams, together with Faylaq Al Sham, till about 5 years in the past.

Faylaq Al Sham has acted as Turkey's proxy throughout a number of Turkish navy campaigns on Syrian soil. It has additionally been the supply of pro-Ankara mercenaries despatched to battle in Libya on the facet of the UN-recognised authorities in Tripoli.

The group fought fierce battles towards the Russian-backed Syrian regime in Aleppo, Idlib and Latakia provinces within the north-west, and is taken into account near the Syrian department of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr Shakhbanov mentioned he had lived in nations together with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, and was impressed to open “Sushi Idlib” after sampling Japanese delicacies throughout his travels.

He mentioned it was the primary sushi restaurant in Idlib, Syria's final fundamental insurgent bastion the place many individuals rely upon humanitarian help.

The rebel-held area is dwelling to about three million folks, about half of them displaced by 12 years of conflict.

The enclave is managed by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the previous Syrian department of Al Qaeda, and different insurgent teams — a few of whom depend fighters from Central Asia and the Caucasus amongst their ranks.

Landlocked Idlib is surrounded by regime troops to the south however borders Turkey to the north, with the coast lower than 25km away in some locations.

Mr Shakhbanov mentioned he imports a lot of his components from Turkey, similar to pickled ginger, soy sauce, prawns and crab.

Idlib was among the many areas struck by a February 6 earthquake that collapsed buildings and killed tens of hundreds, principally in Turkey.

The sushi restaurant survived unscathed.

Behind the counter, two cooks, additionally former fighters from Russia, chopped contemporary salmon and cucumber, spreading the components on a mattress of rice and seaweed earlier than urgent all the pieces right into a roll.

The restaurant at first struggled to draw prospects within the impoverished enclave the place Japanese meals is an oddity, however Mr Shakhbanov says his seaweed rolls are “reasonably priced”.

A California roll sells for 60 Turkish lira ($3), double the value of a big shawarma sandwich extra acquainted to native residents.

He has a couple of dozen common prospects and hopes to draw extra by including fried dishes to the menu, he mentioned.

Now married to a Syrian lady and with two younger daughters, Mr Shakhbanov mentioned he was prepared to go away the sushi behind and style fight once more ought to divided insurgent factions agree on a navy technique.

“I opened a restaurant,” he mentioned, “however I didn't abandon” the battle.