Syria moves to integrate former officers as part of military restructuring effort PHOTO

The Syrian Ministry of Defence has taken significant steps to address the integration of former officers and military factions into the restructured armed forces.

The new administration has conducted a series of comprehensive meetings with representatives from more than 60 military formations. These efforts have culminated in a decision to incorporate these factions into the reformed structure of the Ministry of Defence, Caliber.Az reports via Syrian media.

Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra led 47 intensive meetings with leaders and officers from various factions. A key outcome of these discussions was the establishment of the Supreme Committee for Organising Data on the Armed Forces.

This committee has been tasked with developing a comprehensive database that will include detailed records of personnel—comprising approximately 6,000 officers, non-commissioned officers, military, and scientific staff—as well as military assets, including equipment, weapons, barracks, and technology. The collected data will be systematized and submitted to the Ministry of Defence for further processing.

Defected Syrian Brigadier General Mustafa al-Farhatr, expressed concerns regarding the integration process. He stated that, as of now, neither the new administration nor the former officers are fully clear on their roles in the revamped Syrian army. Farhat speculated that the integration of defecting officers would likely occur on an individual basis, rather than as part of a larger, collective process.

Highlighting the challenges faced by the Syrian military, Farhat noted the severe degradation of military assets, particularly the air force, which he claimed had been nearly destroyed. Despite these difficulties, Farhat expressed confidence that the new administration would not overlook those who had long served the state, suggesting that each qualified dissident officer would find a place within the reorganized structure.

Meanwhile, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra has accused the PKK/YPG of attempting to establish a "parallel army" within Syria, emphasizing that the group is seeking to delay disarmament indefinitely.

Abu Qasra stated that the Syrian government does not recognize the presence of the US-backed PKK/YPG/SDF as a legitimate force within the Syrian armed forces, particularly in the northeast of the country, which remains under their control.

Abu Qasra criticized the PKK/YPG for continuously postponing discussions regarding disarmament, with the aim of buying time. He specifically rejected the statement made by Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the PKK/YPG, who declared that the group would not surrender its weapons and sought to maintain its autonomy within Syria. The Syrian Defence Minister firmly stated that the PKK/YPG has no place within the structure of the Syrian Ministry of Defence, describing their actions as unacceptable.

In response to the PKK/YPG’s refusal to disarm, Syrian government forces, under the Military Operations Command, have reportedly begun preparing for a military operation in the northeastern regions controlled by the group. The Syrian government's stance reflects its broader efforts to restore territorial integrity and remove foreign-backed militant groups operating within its borders.

By Vafa Guliyeva