Back الجيش الوطني السوري Arabic Suriya Milli Ordusu Azerbaijani Сірыйская нацыянальная армія Byelorussian سوپای نیشتیمانیی سووریا CKB Syrská národní armáda Czech Syrische Nationale Armee German Ejército Nacional Sirio Spanish ارتش ملی سوریه Persian Armée nationale syrienne French הצבא הלאומי הסורי HE

Syrian National Army

Not to be confused with Syrian Armed Forces, Syrian Army, or Free Syrian Army.

Syrian National Army
الجيش الوطني السوري
LeadersHadi al-Bahra
(President of SNC)
Abdurrahman Mustafa
(Prime Minister of SIG)
Brig. Gen. Hassan Hamada
(Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff)
Brig. Gen. Adnan al-Ahmad
Deputy Chief of Staff)
Brig. Gen. Fadlallah al-Haji
(Deputy Chief of Staff)
Dates of operation2017[5] - present
Allegiance Turkey[6]
Syrian opposition Syrian Interim Government[5]
(Until 2024)
Syrian opposition Syrian Arab Republic
(Since 2024)
HeadquartersAzaz, Syria
Active regionsNorthern Syria

Western Libya[7]

Karabakh (during the 2020 war)[8]
IdeologyAnti-Assadism
Size
  • 22,000[9]–35,000[10] (2017–19, prior to merger with NFL)
  • 80,000–100,000 (since October 2019, after merger with NFL, reported)[11][12][13]
Allies Turkey[14]
 Qatar[15]
 Azerbaijan[16]
Libya Government of National Accord[17]
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
Syria Syrian Armed Forces (2024-present)
Opponents Syrian Arab Armed Forces (until 2024)[14]
National Defense Forces (until 2024)[14]
Armenia Armenia (until 2023)[8]
Republic of Artsakh Artsakh (until 2023)[8]
Syrian Democratic Forces[18][19]
Northern Democratic Brigade (sometimes)[20]
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (sometimes, until 2022)[21][22][23]
 Islamic State[24]
Libyan National Army
 Russia[25]
 Iran[6][25]
Battles and wars

The Syrian National Army (SNA;[6] Arabic: الجيش الوطني السوري, romanized: al-Jaysh al-Waṭanī as-Sūrī), also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA),[b][28][29][30] is a coalition of armed Syrian opposition groups that participate in the Syrian civil war. Comprising various rebel factions that emerged at the start of the war in July 2011, it was officially established in 2017 under the auspices of Turkey, who provides funding, training, and military support.[31]

The SNA emerged out of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose collection of armed opposition groups founded on 29 July 2011 by defected Syrian military officers.[32] After Turkey formally condemned the regime of Bashar al-Assad in November 2011,[33] it provided arms, training, and sanctuary to the FSA.[34] Initially the principal opponent of the Syrian government,[35] the FSA was gradually weakened by infighting, lack of funding, and rival Islamist groups.[36] In August 2016, Turkey began assembling a new coalition of Syrian rebel groups, which included many former FSA fighters, in an effort to create a more cohesive and effective opposition force;[31] following Operation Euphrates Shield, the Turkish government coordinated with the Syrian Interim Government to form a "National Army" to secure Turkish territorial gains.[37]

The official aims of the SNA were to create a "safe zone" in northern Syria, consolidate with other rebel factions, and combat both Syrian government forces and Islamists.[38][39] Its presence expanded to the neighboring Idlib Governorate during the Syrian government's 2019 northwestern offensive,[40][27] after which it incorporated the National Front for Liberation on 4 October 2019.[31]

Closely aligned with the Turkish government,[41] the SNA has been described as an auxiliary army of the Turkish Armed Forces,[42] and also as "mercenaries" by their critics.[43][44] Outside Syria, SNA fighters have been deployed by Turkey as a proxy force,[45][46] for example in conflicts from Libya to the south Caucasus.[47][48] The SNA mostly consists of Arabs and Syrian Turkmen.[49]

In late November 2024, the Syrian National Army participated alongside Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in the 2024 Syrian Opposition offensives that led to the fall of the Assad regime through Operation "Dawn Of Freedom". The SNA captured both regime and SDF controlled areas in Aleppo countryside, including the cities of Manbij, Tel Rifaat and the Shahba region, and supported HTS during the offensives.[50][51]

It was reported in January 2025 that the Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced that SNA factions would integrate under the new Syrian army.[52][53] At the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, which was held on 29 January 2025, most factions of the armed opposition, including the SNA, announced their dissolution and were incorporated into the newly formed Ministry of Defense.[54] Since then, the transitional government has been still integrating armed groups, including factions of the former Syrian National Army.[55] On 3 February there were circulated reports that the Ministry of defense promoted two generals of the SNA Saif Abu Bakr and Abu Amsha to lead the newly formed 25th Division of the Syrian army. In addition, Liberation and Construction Movement commander Raed al Arab was made the head of the newly formed 118th Armored Division.[56]

  1. ^ "Syrian National Army flag hung in northern Tal Abyad". Anadolu Agency. 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Syria opposition recapture Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib". Middle East Monitor. 3 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. ^ Walid Al Nofal (15 October 2019). "The Syrian National Army: For the Syrian revolution or against the Kurds?". Syria:Direct. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. ^ "SNA troops cross Ceylanpinar from Ras al-Ayn". Anadolu Agency, Getty Images. 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b "30 rebel groups merge under Interim Govt's banner, form 'The National Army'". Zaman al-Wasl. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "The Syrian National Army: Rebels, thugs or Turkish proxies?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference mee was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d "Turkey deploying Syrian fighters to help ally Azerbaijan, two fighters say". Reuters. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  9. ^ "Syrian opposition forces unite under defense ministry, head of interim gov't says". Daily Sabah. 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  10. ^ Khalil Ashawi (13 August 2018). "Syrian rebels build an army with Turkish help, face challenges". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  11. ^ Khaled Khatib (5 October 2019). ""National Army" .. What was the feasibility of integration?". Al-Modon. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  12. ^ الخطيب, حسام (11 September 2018). "المعارضة المعتدلة.. القوة الأساسية في إدلب". هيومن فويس | عين على الحقيقة. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  13. ^ ""National Army" Restructured Having Merged With "National Front for Liberation"". Enab Baladi. 5 October 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "Exclusive: Turkey boosts arms to Syrian rebels as Idlib attack looms – rebel sources". Reuters. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Syrian rebels meet in Qatar after declaring unified 'national army'". No. 7 September 2017. Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Is Turkey planning to recruit Syrians to fight Armenia?". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  17. ^ a b "300 pro-Turkey Syrian rebels sent to Libya to support UN-backed gov't: watchdog – Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference rebelgroups was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference apnews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Chris Tomson (23 October 2016). "Kurdish forces capture village in northern Aleppo as the Turkish Army redeploys". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Hundreds of Turkey-backed rebels leave Manbij frontlines to fight Al Qaeda in Aleppo". The National (Abu Dhabi). 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Syrian National Army sends reinforcements to confront HTS in Western Aleppo, according to military commander of National Army". SMART News Agency. 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  23. ^ "The fight between Tahrir al-Sham and the National Front extends to the northern countryside of Idlib in the 5th day of the bloody clashes that killed about 130 fighters and civilians". SOHR. 5 January 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  24. ^ Kajjo, Sirwan (25 August 2016). "Who were the Turkey backed Syrian Rebels?". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Syrian National Army thwarts infiltration attempt by Assad regime, Russia". Daily Sabah. Anadolu Agency. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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  28. ^ "Syria war: Turkish-led forces oust Kurdish fighters from heart of Afrin". BBC. 18 March 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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  30. ^ "Profit, necessity spur trade across conflict lines in north Aleppo". CNN. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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  32. ^ "Defecting troops form 'Free Syrian Army', target Assad security forces". Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Turkey tells Syria's Assad: Step down!". Reuters. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Syria's opposition has been led astray by violence | Haytham Manna". the Guardian. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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  38. ^ "What is the new Syrian National Army?". TRT World. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  39. ^ Coskun, Orhan; Sezer, Seda (19 September 2016). "Turkey-backed rebels could push further south in Syria, Erdogan says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
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  41. ^ "The Syrian National Army and the Future of Turkey's Frontier Land Force". Jamestown. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  42. ^ z.ujayli (20 April 2021). "The Auxiliary Forces Formed to Boost Turkey's Military Presence in Idlib". Syrians for Truth and Justice. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
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  47. ^ "Exclusive: 2,000 Syrian fighters deployed to Libya to support government". the Guardian. 15 January 2020.
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  49. ^ "FSA commander says 25,000 Syrian rebels back Turkish force in Syria". Reuters. 21 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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  52. ^ "Türkiye says all Syrian armed groups must join state army". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  53. ^ "Turkey orders SNA to Integrate into HTS-Led Ministry of Defense". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. TRAC. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  54. ^ "Syrian Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa Delivers 'Victory Speech,' Outlines Syria's Future Roadmap, Announces Dissolution Of Ba'ath Party, Armed Factions Into New 'Syrian Army'; Military Operations Command Declares Al-Sharaa President Of Syria During Transitional Phase". MEMRI. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  55. ^ "Forging a united front: The challenges of building Syria's new army". The New Arab. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  56. ^ "Iran Update, February 3, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 5 February 2025.


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