Active 1973–? Allegiance Syrian Armed Forces Size 5,000 (peak in 1990) | Country Syria Role Commando Operations | |
Type Praetorian Guard
Special Forces
Shock Troops | ||
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. 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
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. 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.