The Syrian regime ends the detention and recall of certain military categories

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued an “administrative order” today, Saturday, April 27, ending the recall and retention of certain military personnel from early June.

According to the decree published by the official Syrian News Agency (SANA), the order aims to end, with effect from June 1, 2024, the recall of reserve officers drafted for anyone who has actually worked for a year or more. reserve service before May 31.

It also ends retention and recall for noncommissioned officers and reserve personnel, who have been retained and drafted, effective June 1 for anyone who has completed six or more years of actual reserve service before May 31.

This decision follows a similar decree from December of the previous year, which ended the recall for drafted reserve officers, and the recall and retention for non-commissioned officers and reserve personnel, under the same criteria. This has been accompanied by calls for volunteerism within the ranks of the Syrian regime’s armed forces, including a range of incentives for those willing to volunteer under specific contracts.

Previously, on August 16, 2023, the regime issued a similar administrative order, preceded by another order on July 17, with specific criteria at a time when the regime was also removing military and security barriers from certain areas of the Syrian capital Damascus , in efforts to reduce the presence of military forces. These steps came simultaneously with active Arab movements to reintegrate the regime into the Arab fold.

The Syrian Military Service Law does not specify the duration of reserve service or the retention of soldiers, nor does the Ministry of Defense disclose the number of conscripts or the details of those detained or serving in the reserves. However, global sites such as Global Fire Power estimate their numbers at around 150,000.

A researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, Mohsen Mustafa, explained this earlier Enab Baladi that such administrative orders are partly motivated by an attempt to alleviate social pressure in areas under regime control, while they are also unlikely to send messages to Arab countries, as the issue is largely related to the personnel continuity within the regime’s army.

According to the researcher, the order to discharge and end the retention does not reflect complete military stability, but rather indicates a state of “sufficiency” with the entry of new conscripts. He expressed doubts whether a large number of soldiers would benefit from the decree, as long as it comes with conditions that do not apply to everyone.

The current administrative order comes at a time when the region is witnessing military tensions that threaten an escalation at the regional level. This was clearly marked by an Israeli target on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, which was completely destroyed, killing thirteen people, including seven Iranians, including prominent leaders. This was followed by clashes between Israel and Iran as part of revenge and retaliation on April 13.