Building the Syrian National Army: Challenges and Opportunities

By Dr. Samir al-Taqi

In his book on the Syrian civil war, Janine Di Giovanni writes, “The savage act does not only destroy the souls of both parties—the victim and the perpetrator—but also destroys the very fabric of society.”

Following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, the Assad regime did not pursue reconciliation or seek to reunify the Syrian people. Instead, it intentionally exacerbated sectarian, ethnic, and regional divisions, transforming the country into an arena for open conflict and foreign interventions. Today, with the collapse of the regime, Syria faces one of its most complex dilemmas: rebuilding a modern national state from scratch, amidst the absence of national legitimacy and the presence of multiple militias with conflicting loyalties.

Challenges of Building the Syrian National Army

The task of dismantling militias and establishing a new national army is among the most significant challenges Syria faces today. Addressing this challenge involves managing several interlinked factors:

• Ensuring civil peace through unified national legitimacy.

• Building effective governance structures and a clear legal framework.

• Defining the model for the state and the national economy.

• Determining regional and international alliances.

Current Militia Landscape in Syria

The militias in Syria can be classified into three main groups:

1. Syrian Islamist Jihadi Militias:

• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly): Initially absorbed various local factions and foreign fighters, including Uzbeks, Uyghurs, and Caucasians, currently estimated at around 90,000 fighters.

• Adaptation and Transformation: The group adapted its structure and narrative, neutralized potential rivals, and established security understandings with Turkey.

• Foreign Fighters: Estimated at about 15,000, including Uyghurs, Egyptians, and Gulf nationals.

• Muslim Brotherhood: Has undocumented relationships with Ahrar al-Sham.

• Turkish-supported Militias: Primarily engage against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

2. Islamist Jihadi Militias with Regional and International Agendas:

• ISIS: About 4,000 fighters remain in the Syrian desert, Aleppo countryside, and Raqqa, actively reorganizing through camps and local recruitment.

• Hurras al-Din: Considered the new branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria, comprising around 15,000 fighters.

3. Ethnic, Tribal, and Sectarian Forces:

• Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): Approximately 60,000 fighters, heavily supported by the United States.

• Druze Forces in Jabal al-Arab: Estimated at 12,000 fighters advocating decentralization.

• Local Defense Forces in Coastal Areas: Emerged in reaction to attacks following the regime’s collapse.

Strategies and Challenges for Dissolving Militias and Establishing the National Army

1. Integrating Syrian Islamist Militias:

   • Establishing a unified national ideological framework.

   • Enforcing stringent civilian oversight.

   • Implementing training programs emphasizing professionalism and discipline.

   • Modernizing military doctrine towards a non-politicized, national orientation.

2. Integrating Foreign Fighters:

   • Intensive ideological rehabilitation.

   • Ensuring loyalty strictly to the Syrian national identity, detached from external agendas.

3. Resolving Militias with Regional and International Agendas:

   • Coordinated international and regional cooperation to eliminate these groups and cut off their resources.

4. Integrating Ethnic, Tribal, and Sectarian Forces:

   • Accommodating their demands for decentralization and recognizing their cultural and legal rights.

   • Ensuring stability, security, and the rule of law.

Prospects for Syria’s Future

Today, Syria faces immense challenges amidst multiple regional and international interventions. The only viable option for achieving stability lies in building a unified sovereign state and a non-politicized national army, supported strongly by Arab regional backing as the driving force for stability and development. Syrians must overcome internal divisions, fostering a broad national consensus to prevent the country from again becoming a battleground for regional and global conflicts.

The success of Syrians in reconstructing their state and national army would represent a formidable challenge but is essential to secure a safe and stable future for the coming generations.