Struggle Companies (Syria)

Struggle Companies
Active	1973–?
Country	Syria
Allegiance	Syrian Armed Forces
Type	Praetorian Guard Special Forces Shock Troops
Role	Commando Operations
Size	5,000 (peak in 1990)
Garrison/HQ	Damascus
Engagements	Hama massacre
Commanders
Ceremonial chief	Hafez al-Assad
Notable commanders	Adnan al-Assad Muhammad al-Assa

The Struggle Companies (Saraya al-Sira') is or 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 are/were fanatically loyal to the Assad family/regime and were heavily used during the 1982 Hama Muslim Brotherhood uprising ^[3][2]

The Syrian president exercises 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' is 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

• Defense Companies (Syria)
• Shabiha

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

1. "Syria's Praetorian Guards: A Primer". meforum.org. August 2000. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
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. 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

External links

• LOC country study