Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

Syria's leadership fills top army roles with HTS members, foreigners

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Dec 2024 23:59
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Ahmad al-Sharaa's General Command published a decree listing 49 individuals who will assume key military roles.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    Members of the new armed forces, former rebels who overthrew Bashar Assad's government and now serve in the new Syrian government, march during a military parade at the central square in Damascus, Syria, Friday, December 27, 2024. (AP)

Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's de facto leader, has appointed dozens of former opposition members, including several foreign jihadists, to prominent positions in the Syrian Army as part of efforts to restructure the country's military.

The appointments come weeks after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government and amid efforts to rebuild state institutions that had been dominated by the Assad administration.

On Sunday, al-Sharaa's General Command published a decree listing 49 individuals who will assume key military roles. The announcement, shared on Telegram, is the first of its kind since the Assad government fell on December 8. The statement noted that the appointments are part of efforts toward "the development and modernization of the military... in order to guarantee security and stability."

Read more: Syrians remain concerned about extremist factions within HTS: VOA

The new list includes former opposition members, particularly from al-Sharaa's Islamist-led group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as well as ex-military officers who defected during the early stages of the war on Syria. HTS, originally an offshoot of al-Qaeda, has sought to rebrand itself in recent years while maintaining its stronghold in Idlib.

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, issues the first military decision promoting 50 officers in the factions, including two promoted to the rank of major general, including the Minister of Defense, Marhaf Ahmed Abu Qasra, who is tasked with submitting proposals to establish the… pic.twitter.com/Om3VyaEv3q

— Ibrahim Hamidi ابراهيم حميدي (@ibrahimhamidi) December 29, 2024

Related News

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

Damascus accuses Sweida factions of breaking ceasefire, sowing 'chaos'

HTS dominates key roles

Speaking to AFP, Haid Haid, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, noted that "the top seven highest ranks of those promoted seem to be all from HTS." Among them is HTS's military chief, Murhaf Abu Qasra, who has been named a general and is reportedly being considered for the position of defense minister in the transitional government.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in the UK, revealed that many of the appointees are close allies of al-Sharaa, including at least six foreigners. These include fighters from Albania, Jordan, Turkiye, Tajikistan, and a Uyghur associated with the Turkistan Islamic Party.

"HTS has been able to position its members, as well as those who are close to it, to be the ones leading the defense ministry, the future army, as well as the ones leading the restructuring of this army," Haid explained.

The decree also promoted two individuals to the rank of general, five to brigadier general, and approximately 40 to colonel.

Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia

Promise of broader representation

In an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya, al-Sharaa acknowledged that HTS members and their allies currently dominate government positions but pledged "broader participation" in the future. The Syrian Observatory corroborated that most of the appointments were from HTS or affiliated factions, with a small number from allied groups.

Aymenn al-Tamimi, an expert on jihadist groups, confirmed to AFP the inclusion of foreigners on the list, including a Jordanian, a Uyghur, and a Turkish fighter who led a faction of Turkish fighters under HTS and is now a brigadier general.

Western leaders, in particular Europe, have expressed more concern over HTS's potential to maintain Syria's ties with Russia.

  • Syria
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • Abu Mohammad al-Jolani
  • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
  • HTS

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS