Syria says all military units integrated under Defense Ministry
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Syria’s defense minister orders the complete integration of remaining armed groups into the Defense Ministry, warning of legal measures for noncompliance within 10 days.
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Soldiers from the 70th Division of the New Syrian Army during an Iftar organized by the Ministry of Defense at a military site in Damascus, Monday, March 24, 2025 (AP)
Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced on Saturday a directive to merge all remaining military units under the authority of the Ministry of Defense, marking a decisive step toward consolidating the country's armed forces.
The minister emphasized that “all military groups must report for integration within a maximum period of 10 days,” underscoring the urgency of the move aimed at reinforcing centralized military command.
Abu Qasra warned that any delay in compliance will lead to “appropriate measures being taken in accordance with existing laws,” signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward fragmented armed formations operating outside formal military command structures.
Talks on integration
Back in January, Syria’s transitional government was advancing efforts to restructure the nation’s armed forces. Abu Qasra said at the time that discussions with military factions were underway to integrate them into the Ministry of Defense.
In remarks reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Abu Qasra said, "Following directives from the General Command to reorganize the Syrian Arab Army, we have begun sessions with military factions to develop a roadmap for stabilizing the organizational structure of the armed forces."
This comes after Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria's new administration, held a key meeting in December with commanders of opposition armed groups. The meeting resulted in a landmark agreement to dissolve all Syrian factions and merge them under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense.
Al-Sharaa also urged the international community to lift economic sanctions on Syria, emphasizing that the dissolution of armed factions is imminent and that no weapons outside state control would be tolerated.
