A new report has unveiled alarming connections between senior military officials in the newly formed New Syrian Army and various jihadist organizations. This revelation casts a shadow over the stability of Syria's post-Assad regime and presents potential security threats to neighboring countries, including Israel. The report highlights that 22 high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Defense, Deputy Minister of Defense, and Chief of Staff, possess backgrounds tied to extremist groups, raising serious questions about the army's ideological alignment and its long-term implications for regional peace.
According to a report cited by the Syrian Observer, these officials have affiliations with groups such as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahrar al-Sham, and Ansar al-Tawhid. Notably, figures like Air Force Commander Asim Rashid al-Hawari and Republican Guard Commander Abd al-Rahman Hussein al-Khatib are linked to Jabhat al-Nusra and other organizations known for their extreme ideologies. The presence of foreign fighters from Egypt, Jordan, and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) within units like the 84th Division further complicates the ideological landscape, suggesting a deeper infiltration of radical elements than previously understood.
New "Kind of Old" Syrian Army?
The New Syrian Army, established after the fall of the Assad regime, has already faced scrutiny for its composition. Units now integrated into the army participated in recent clashes against the Druze in Suweida in July 2025. Divisions such as the 40th, 52nd, 82nd, and 42nd, led by commanders with jihadist ties, were involved in these conflicts, with some soldiers reportedly seen wearing ISIS patches. This visual evidence has intensified fears regarding the army's true ideological leanings and its potential to destabilize Syria's already fragile governance structure.
Analysts are particularly concerned that the Salafi-jihadist ideology, which inherently views Israel and religious minorities as adversaries, could pose a direct and immediate security challenge to the region. For instance, the 70th Division, under the command of Issam Bouidani, formerly of Jaysh al-Islam, operates in eastern Rif Damascus and has a documented history of targeting minority populations. Similarly, the 86th Division, led by Ahmad Ahsan Fiadh al-Hiyas, has been criticized for its actions against Kurdish and Yazidi communities, leading to violent confrontations in eastern Syria. These instances underscore the potential for widespread conflict if these ideologies are allowed to proliferate within the new military structure.
Internal Challenges
Despite ongoing efforts to integrate various rebel factions into a cohesive military force, the report points to significant internal challenges. These include widespread defections, persistent tribal conflicts, and difficulties in consistently paying salaries, particularly within the 86th Division. The controversial inclusion of foreign combatants with extremist ideologies, reportedly sanctioned by the United States, has further fueled skepticism about the new regime's intentions and its capacity to control these volatile elements effectively. As the regime strives to consolidate power, the international community remains vigilant, closely monitoring the army's activities, especially in volatile areas like Suweida and eastern Syria, where clashes with local populations and remnants of ISIS continue to pose a threat.
The report concludes by suggesting that the list of jihadist-affiliated commanders is likely incomplete due to existing information gaps and the deliberate rebranding of extremist organizations under the army's umbrella. This implies that the true extent of radical ideologies within the New Syrian Army might be larger than currently known, presenting ongoing and complex challenges for both Syria's future stability and broader regional security. The Syrian Observer, which translated and edited the report, noted that it has not independently verified the content, emphasizing that responsibility for the information lies solely with the author.