Syria: Half of the new Syrian army has been recruited
A military official revealed that the new Syrian army being built by the transitional authorities has so far recruited 100,000 soldiers out of a target force of 200,000.
The Syrian military official indicated that the new Syrian army’s rebuilding plan is being overseen by Ali Nour al Din al Naasan, who was appointed army commander in January, in cooperation with Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra.
Each division is scheduled to consist of five brigades, including infantry, armored, special forces, and a multi-mission brigade.
The army is under the control of the new authorities, and its senior commanders are largely made up of members of Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), along with former members of civil war factions.
Among the new formations, the Uyghur Brigade stands out, comprising approximately 3,500 Uyghur fighters from China, under the command of a figure known as Abu Mohammed al Turkistani.
The military source confirmed that these foreign fighters will be granted Syrian citizenship by the end of the year.
The new Syrian army also aims to integrate 30,000 members of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and 15,000 fighters from the US-backed Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces, indicating a hybrid military structure comprising various factions.
Regarding salaries, it was explained that salaries range is between $150 and $500 per month and are paid from local funding sources under the control of the new administration, including the two telecommunications companies previously controlled by Assad’s regime.
