Senior Military Ranks Awarded to HTS Leader and Allies, Former Assad Army Expresses Displeasure
In a controversial move, the interim Syrian authorities have granted senior military ranks to leaders of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and their allies, including individuals who are not Syrian nationals, sparking a wave of criticism and dissatisfaction.
The decision, as reported by The New Arab, has particularly irked former Syrian army officers who previously served under Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Critics have honed in on the bestowal of military ranks to foreign HTS fighters, raising questions about Ahmed al-Sharaa’s authority as the de facto ruler of Syria to unilaterally make such decisions.
Concerns have also surfaced regarding the competency of these fighters in holding senior ranks, given that none of them have graduated from recognized military institutions. Instead, they have garnered their experience solely on the battlefield, where the rules and procedures followed by professional armies have never been applied.
The integration of factions involved in the Syrian revolution is generally viewed as a necessary step to control the security situation in the country. However, lingering questions remain about the process of integration, the parties to be included, and the methodologies to be employed.
Integration Process and Exclusions
For instance, factions under the Syrian National Army (SNA) backed by Turkey are expected to be swiftly integrated into the new military institution built upon the remnants of Assad regime’s forces. However, it appears that the SNA has been excluded from any communication with this new government, according to reports dated December 23.
Military Rank Assignments for HTS Leaders
The decision known as “No.8,” published on Sunday (29/12/2024) on the Telegram account of the Sharaa General Command, includes a list of 49 individuals set to be “promoted” to the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, and Colonel as part of the “development and modernization of the Syrian army.”
Among those promoted is HTS military wing commander and newly appointed Defense Minister in the transitional government, Murhaf Abu Qasra, who received the rank of Major General. The list also features three former Syrian army defectors during the war, alongside several HTS commanders and members of other factions.
Non-Syrian fighters who have been granted military ranks include Abdul Samriz Bashari (Albania), Alaa Mohammed Abdul Baqi (Egypt), and Ibnian Ahmed al-Hariri (Jordan), who attained the rank of Colonel.
