Struggle Companies/Struggle Brigades
سرايا الصراع
Active1973 – Unknown (dissolved)
Country Syria
AllegianceSyrian Armed Forces
TypePraetorian Guard
Shock Troops
Special Forces
RoleAirborne forces
Close-quarters combat
Counter-insurgency
Raiding
Direct action
Special operations
Unconventional warfare
Size5,000 (peak in 1990)
Garrison/HQDamascus
Engagements
Commanders
Ceremonial chiefHafez al-Assad
Notable
commanders		Adnan al-Assad
Muhammad al-Assa

The Struggle Companies (Arabic: سرايا الصراع; Saraya al-Sira) was 5,000-strong commando force deployed around Damascus. Created in 1973 and commanded by Maj. Gen Adnan Assad, a cousin of the late Syrian president, Hafez Assad.[1][2] The all Alawite Struggle Companies are broadly similar to the Defense Companies and were fanatically loyal to the Syrian government and were heavily used during the 1982 Hama Muslim Brotherhood uprising[3][2]

The Syrian president exercised direct control over the Saraya al-Sira', Saraya al-Difa', and the Republican Guard all of whom function as a Praetorian Guard.[4][5] The headquarters of the Saraya al-Sira' was Mezzeh Military Airport

The Saraya al-Sira' wore combat uniforms quite distinct from the regular Syrian military, their uniform consisted of lizard-patterned camouflage fatigues along with Soviet combat boots, helmets and bulletproof vests. Headgear consisted of a red or orange beret.[4]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

  1. ↑ "Syria's Praetorian Guards: A Primer". meforum.org. August 2000. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 MIDDLE EAST SECURITY REPORT 8:The Assad Regime by Joseph Holliday, dtd March 2013
  3. ↑ Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars (2), Men-at-Arms 194, by Samuel Katz, 1988 with 2005 reprint. ISBN 0-85045-800-5
  4. 1 2 Arab Amies of the Middle East Wars (2), Osprey Men at Arms series #194 p43 by Samuel Katz
  5. ↑ "Syria - The Power Elite". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 29 November 2015.

Sources

  • Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness 1948-91, Kenneth M. Pollack, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, 2002, and Pollack's book reviewed in International Security, Vol. 28, No. 2
  • Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars (Men-at-Arms, 194) by Samuel Katz, Osprey Publishing 1988, ISBN 978-0-85045-800-8
  • Armies in Lebanon 1982 to 1984 (Men at Arms Series, 165) by Samuel Katz and Ronald Volstad, Osprey Publishing 1985, ISBN 978-0-85045-602-8

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