Former Turkey-Aligned Faction Leader.. Appointing Commanders of Questionable National Loyalty in Syrian Defense
The appointment of leaders from pro-Turkey factions reflects a strategic flaw in the structure of the new Syrian army and threatens the integrity of the military institution and its ability to protect
April 12, 2025, 9:38 pm

متزعم مليشيا فرقة السلطان مراد، المدعو فهيم عيسى \ متداول

The Ministry of Defense of the Syrian interim caretaker government announced on Saturday a series of new appointments for brigade commanders in the Syrian Army, along with the appointment of a deputy to Murhaf Abu Qasra, who holds the position of Minister of Defense.

A government source reported that the ministry has chosen Fahim Issa as Deputy Minister of Defense and commander of the Northern Region in Syria, raising major concerns about the independence of Syrian military decision-making.

Fahim Issa is the former commander of the Sultan Murad Division, one of the most prominent pro-Turkey military formations, whose name has been associated with widespread violations in areas under its control in northern Syria. The division has actively participated in Turkish military operations against various Syrian components.

The appointments included assigning Abu Khaled Al-Arabi to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Zubair ibn Al-Awam Brigade in the Ministry of Defense, while the ministry granted Suleiman Al-Issa command of the Special Forces Brigade in the 52nd Division.

The ministry also assigned Abu Adnan 500 to the position of Chief of Staff of the Ali bin Abi Talib Brigade in the Ministry of Defense, and appointed Abu Jasim Huwair as Commander-in-Chief of the Desert Battalions in the Zubair Brigade in the Ministry of Defense, in addition to installing Abu Basir Makhala as commander of a battalion in the Damascus Division at the Ministry of Defense.

These appointments come in the context of restructuring the Syrian military institution, but they raise serious questions about the selection criteria and the extent of these leaders' loyalty to the Syrian national project, especially with some having close ties to regional countries with special agendas in Syria.

The selection of leadership figures from pro-Turkey factions reflects the continued approach of quota-based appointments and external loyalties in forming Syrian institutions, which contradicts the necessity of building independent national institutions that operate according to a purely Syrian vision.

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