On the right, military leader Mohammad al-Jassem (Abu Amsha), president of the Syrian transitional government Ahmad al-Sharaa and leader Saif Boulad, on the left, on Dec. 16, 2024. (Photo taken from Mohammad al-Jassem's X account)
Three former warlords, who had become commanders in the Syrian army, have just lost direct control over their troops. Mohammad al-Jassem, known as Abu Amsha, who headed the 62nd Division, has been reassigned to administrative duties. Saif Boulad Abu Bakr, commander of the 76th Division, preferred to resign rather than accept a similar posting. Abu Hatem Shaqra, head of the 86th Division, was transferred to the Defense Ministry, where he now holds a non-operational role.The three men all previously commanded units of the Syrian National Army (SNA), a faction backed by Turkey and notorious for abuses in northern Syria during the war. Their own militias had been integrated en masse into the Syrian army — with much of their original structures intact — in January 2025. The reshuffle carried out in early August, intended to break the chains...
Three former warlords, who had become commanders in the Syrian army, have just lost direct control over their troops. Mohammad al-Jassem, known as Abu Amsha, who headed the 62nd Division, has been reassigned to administrative duties. Saif Boulad Abu Bakr, commander of the 76th Division, preferred to resign rather than accept a similar posting. Abu Hatem Shaqra, head of the 86th Division, was transferred to the Defense Ministry, where he now holds a non-operational role.The three men all previously commanded units of the Syrian National Army (SNA), a faction backed by Turkey and notorious for abuses in northern Syria during the war. Their own militias had been integrated en masse into the Syrian army — with much of their original structures intact — in January 2025. The reshuffle carried out in early August, intended to break the...
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