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Secret assessment from the Pentagon about the weakness of the new Syrian army
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) prepared a classified report for Congress, revealing that the “New Syrian Army” formed under transitional authorities lacks a cohesive military structure and relies on fragile, fragmented alliances. These alliances include leaders from “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) and several extremist Sunni militias.
Details of the report indicate that groups deemed dangerous by Washington, such as “Huras al-Din,” despite being announced as dissolved after the fall of Assad’s regime, have regained significant influence in Damascus and still impact the policies of the transitional government, despite previous disagreements with “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.”
American journalist based in Washington, Hadil Awis, stated on her Facebook page that the 70-page assessment warned the Pentagon against attempts to expand the authority of the current government or increase its resources. Such moves could strengthen the influence of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast and grant them greater independence.
The report points out that this shift represents a reversal of previous US Defense and State Department policies, which supported integrating the SDF with Damascus to ease the burden of protecting northern areas from Turkey.
It also concluded that the continued presence of the SDF serves U.S. national security interests, and Israel favors a more aggressive approach to expanding a safety zone along its borders with Syria, possibly controlling parts of southern Syria, placing it closer to Damascus.
The report raises concerns within Congress about any easing of sanctions on Damascus, which would significantly hinder the US administration’s ability to renew exemptions or implement economic agreements with Damascus and other countries.
In a related context, the website “Al-Monitor” revealed that some fighters from “Huras al-Din,” a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria, are seeking influence within the new Damascus regime. US intelligence officials estimate that elements affiliated with al-Qaeda remain independent under the supervision of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” allowing them freedom of movement and influence over new government policies.
The report states that US special operations forces carried out drone strikes resulting in the deaths of dozens of “Huras al-Din” members in northwest Syria since the organization split from “Jabhat al-Nusra” and formed “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” in 2018.
Despite “Huras al-Din” dissolving itself after al-Assad’s rise to power in late last year, all its members have not relinquished their weapons, and they remain outside the operational control of the new US administration, nearly seven months after the fall of the Assad regime.
The report also highlights ongoing US concerns about a close circle around al-Assad, despite the reduced US troop presence in Syria and Iraq. In May, Assad appointed Ahmed Ihsan Fayyad al-Hayis as head of the 86th Division in the new Syrian army, responsible for managing Deir Ezzor, Hasakah, and Raqqa regions.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on al-Hayis in 2021 when he led the “Free Eastern” faction, accusing him of crimes against Syrian minorities. His appointment was described at the time as “a major mistake.”
In June, US Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, confirmed that the Trump administration abandoned the demand to expel all foreign fighters from Syria, focusing instead on monitoring their activities and exchanging intelligence about them.
