Research team:
Major General Muhammad Al-Haj Ali, Principal Researcher
Company commander and commander of a mechanized infantry battalion and
commander of a mechanized brigade
Instructor at the Military College and instructor at the Higher Military Academy
Researcher in the Military Scientific Research Branch and a teacher of scientific
research methods and of national strategy and national security at the National
Defense College and the Higher Military Academy
Director of the Syrian National Defense College from 2008 until the date of his
defection from the Syrian army on August 2, 2012.
He has a number of scientific publications in the fields of military and national
strategy, national security and geopolitics,
Brigadier General Khaled Ibrahim, Research Assistant
Chief of Staff of a tank battalion
Assistant Head of the Political Orientation Department
Assistant Head of Brigade Operations Department
Lecturer at the Higher Military Academy
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Contents
Introduction
First: The impact of war on the Syrian Army
The impact on the Syrian army prior to the Baath takeover of power
The impact on the army during the first period of Ba’ath rule
The impact on the army during the period of Assad’s rule 1970 – 2010
Additional problems besetting the army in the context of the Syrian war
Using the army and security services to confront the popular revolution
So What is left of the Syrian army after ten years of war
The results of the armed forces’ intervention in the popular revolution
Second: The regime’s allied and auxiliary forces
Auxiliary forces
A. National Defense Forces
B. The Baath Brigades
C. Desert Hawks Brigade
D. Palestinian forces fighting on the government’s side
Regime-allied forces
The dangers of militias on the reform of the Syrian army
Third: Non-regime-held areas
The northwestern region of Syria
The northeastern region
ISIS-controlled areas
Conclusion after studying the opposition factions
Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies
Fourth: Some countries’ attempts to restructure their army
The Spanish experience
The Indonesian Experience
The Burmese experience
Fifth: The challenges of army restructuring
The challenge of evacuating foreign forces
The challenge of facing five decades of Assad’s rule
The negative outcome of years of conflict on the army
Sixth: The foundations for restructuring the army and the roles it will play
Basics of army restructuring
Factors contributing to army restructuring
Steps to be implemented to ensure the success of army restructuring
Seven: Transitional Military Council
Tasks of the Transitional Military Council
The roles of the army in the first stage of the political transition
Ceasefire Measures
Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration
The mechanisms used in the transition from war to peace are
The mechanism of collecting weapons and combat materiel in Syria after the war
The roles of the army in the second stage, which are its usual roles in a modern state
Conclusion
Appendix
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Introduction
Syria’s biggest problem lies in that its army concerned itself with politics shortly after independence,
as Syria witnessed a series of military coups that began in 1949, the last of which
was the coup of Hafez al-Assad in November 1970. The latter established a military dictatorship
based on the Soviet formula, especially regarding the establishment of the so-called
indoctrinated army and security apparatus, the militarization of society, the nationalization of
politics and the suppression of public liberties, all of which have hindered growth of Syria for
over five decades.
Since 2011, the ideological army and security services have been used by the ruling elite,
headed by Bashar al-Assad, in the face of the Syrian people who rose up to demand freedom
and dignity, thus causing one of the greatest catastrophes of the twentieth century after World
War II.
This large army, whose goal is to protect the regime not to defend the country, was thus unable
to confront Israel’s continuous attacks. In fact, it was defeated by Israel in all the confrontations,
mainly in 1967, 1973, and in Lebanon in 1982, and when Israel attacked Hezbollah in
2006, it stood as a helpless spectator. An army that claims retaining the right to responding to
Israel’s continuous attacks on Syria, but that only has the guts to confront peaceful demonstrators
with bullets, as an execution of its superiors’ orders.
During Syria’s years of conflict which started in 2011, the situation of the army has deteriorated
even more. In addition to the repression role assigned to the military and security forces
by the ruling elite, many of its elements and leaders were killed, and the sectarian nature that
dominated the conflict soon took over the military and security forces. On a parallel note,
paramilitary militias were formed to support the regime, and Lebanese, Iraqi, Afghani, and
Iranian militias were brought in by the regime, with regular forces, mainly from Iran, Russia,
America, and Turkey, already present on Syrian soil. All of which made the political situation
even more complicated.
The re-establishing of Syria is practically impossible with such situation, and requires a reform
in the army’s roles, so army restructuring will be the subject of this study.
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