Syrian Army Reshaped: Ahmad al-Shara’s Leadership and Foreign Influence in New Military Structure
Under Ahmad al-Shara, the new Syrian army emerges with key foreign commanders, sparking debate about stability and regional involvement.
Watan-The outlines of the new Syrian army began to take shape under the leadership of Ahmad al-Shara, with appointments to senior positions in the General Staff and the restructuring of the military institution after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The most surprising aspect of these appointments was the assigning of sensitive positions to foreign figures, sparking widespread controversy about the new government’s direction and its reliance on non-Syrian leaders in strategic positions.
Foreign Commanders Lead Key Divisions in Reshaped Syrian Army under Ahmad alShara.
The command of the Republican Guard was entrusted to Brigadier General Abdul Rahman al-Khateeb, known by the nickname “Abu Hussein al-Jordani,” a Jordanian physician who graduated from the University of Amman. Al-Khateeb was one of the prominent leaders of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham who supported al-Shara, and he led the first operations of the Republican Guard in cleansing the Syrian-Lebanese border.
As for the command of the Damascus Military Division, it was given to Brigadier General Omar Muhammad Jaftchi, known as “Mukhtar al-Turk,” who is believed to still be in contact with Turkish intelligence, despite speculations that he may be wanted by Ankara.
The new organizational structure included figures from Syrian armed factions that fought the Assad regime. Mohammad al-Jassim “Abu Amsha” was appointed to lead the Hama Military Division, after having previously led the “Suleiman Shah Division.” Meanwhile, Brigadier General Haytham al-Ali “Abu Muslim” took charge of the Homs Military Division “Division 103,” one of the most important military divisions in the new army.
New Leadership Mix in Syrian Army Raises Stability Concerns and Regional Tensions.
The command of the tank division stationed in al-Furqlus, in eastern Homs countryside, was entrusted to Raed Arab, who also commands the Badiya Division responsible for clearing Palmyra and its surroundings from remnants of ISIS.
In Idlib, Mohammad Gharib “Abu Asid Horan” took charge of the Idlib Division, which will be responsible for securing strategic roads and railway lines, as well as preventing the infiltration of terrorist organizations into the province.
It seems that the new leadership, under Ahmad al-Shara, is relying on a mix of local commanders and foreign fighters who played a role in overthrowing the Assad regime, raising questions about the ability of this composition to achieve stability in the country.
Additionally, the involvement of leaders from other countries may provoke political sensitivities, especially with figures linked to Turkey and Jordan, which could indicate broader regional engagement in Syrian affairs.
