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# محسن المصطفى: باحث في العلاقات العسكرية المدنية - Researcher in Civil-Military Relations

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [The Logic of Appointments in Syria’s Post-Conflict Defense Sector](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/the-logic-of-appointments-in-syrias-post-conflict-defense-sector/): The logic of military and security appointments in post-conflict Syria reflects an effort to transition from the logic of networks and factions to that of the state and its institutions. Yet this transition remains governed by a delicate balance between the imperatives of rapid control and organizational trust on the one hand, and the requirements of competence, representation, and legal discipline on the other.
- [Beyond the Axis: Israel’s Approach in Syria from Threat Management to Reshaping the Security Environment](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/beyond-the-axis-israels-approach-in-syria-from-threat-management-to-reshaping-the-security-environment/): The first year after the regime’s fall reflected a dangerous phase in the nature of Israeli intervention in Syria. It can no longer be understood as a traditional extension of earlier “deterrence” patterns, but rather as part of a broader approach toward Syria in general and the shaping of its southern security sphere in particular.
- [Toward a Unified National Army: The Ministry of Defense’s Restructuring Plan](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/toward-a-unified-syriam-army-en/): The fall of the Assad regime reopened the question of the army as a state institution rather than an instrument of authoritarian rule, at a moment defined by a security vacuum and military fragmentation that compelled the state to rebuild centralized military decision-making and a legal monopoly over force
- [Syria’s Kurds have an opportunity](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrias-kurds-have-an-opportunity/): With the military balance shifting and regional dynamics realigning, Syria’s Kurds face a rare opening: shift decisively from armed militias to political engagement and pluralism within a constitutional framework. They should seize the opportunity or risk further reversals. 
- [Syrian Army Discipline: Standards and Sustainability Measures](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrian-army-discipline-en/): The discipline demonstrated during the execution of recent military operations represents a strategic opportunity to redefine the relationship between the army and society on the basis of law rather than fear. It must be sustained and carried forward, evolving into an institutional culture
- [Aleppo’s economic revival hinges on real security](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/aleppo-s-economic-revival-hinges-on-real-security-en/): With sanctions lifted and trade routes reopening, Aleppo can once again become Syria’s industrial and business hub. But the promise of recovery remains fragile so long as the city is governed by a volatile security situation that tolerates armed enclaves beyond state control
- [Guilty for being Sunni](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/guilty-for-being-sunni/): Syria’s new government faces growing attacks not for what it does, but for who it is: a Sunni-majority leadership.
- [Syria’s Military Intelligence Division:Structure & Instruments of Repression](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrias-military-intelligence-divisionstructure-instruments-of-repression/): The Military Intelligence Division formed a cornerstone in the machinery of repression and subjugation in the Syrian state from the post-independence period until the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024. Its most decisive role, however, accompanied the rise of the Baath Party in 1963 and the entrenchment of Assad family rule over the following five decades. In its tasks and functions, the Division moved beyond a narrowly military remit, recasting itself as a comprehensive instrument of security, political, and social control armed with extraordinary, supra-legal powers and shielded from any oversight or accountability. The expansion of this institution had a decisive impact in entrenching the logic of the police-security state in Assad’s Syria and in shaping a public consciousness in which the intelligence services, rather than courts or laws, became the real arbiter of individual lives and fates.
- [The Referral of Civilians to Military Prisons During the Syrian Revolution: Procedures, Pathways, and Judicial Gateways (Sednaya Prison as a Case Study)](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/the-referral-of-civilians-to-military-prisons-during-the-syrian-revolution-procedures-pathways-and-judicial-gateways-sednaya-prison-as-a-case-study/): The liberation of Sednaya Military Prison marks more than just the end of a notorious facility. It represents the collapse of a peak in the repressive system and a rare opportunity to rebuild justice from the ground up. It is a moment to redefine the relationship between the state and its citizens based on rights, not fear, and grounded in memory, not denial. Despite the challenges, this path is the precondition for any real stability, lasting reconciliation, and a just future for Syria.
- [Why DDR programs are the missing link to Syrian stability](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/why-ddr-programs-are-the-missing-link-to-syrian-stability/): The Syrian landscape after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime faces a web of complex and interrelated political, security, economic, and social challenges. The transitional government is striving to build a fundamentally different state and to launch a comprehensive reconstruction process, supported by growing international engagement, particularly following US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria. While this shift has opened new opportunities for the government to benefit from international reengagement, it has also brought forth more intricate domestic obligations, foremost among them the launch of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs, alongside broader Security Sector Reform (SSR).
- [Assad’s Officers’ Companies… Disclosure, Accountability, and Reallocation](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/assad_officers_companies_en/): Following the fall of the Assad regime, a critical opportunity has emerged to conduct thorough and methodical security vetting operations targeting all commercial enterprises. These operations, grounded in official documentation issued by state ministries, aim to uncover companies linked to former regime officers and other human rights violators—whether registered in their own names or under those of family members. The process includes tracing the assets and financial flows of these entities, followed by the freezing of their holdings as a necessary interim measure. This would allow for a comprehensive legal review and the adoption of appropriate decisions regarding their status, ultimately ensuring the protection of national resources and their redirection toward serving the public interest ().
- [What Was Syria’s Violence About?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syria_violence_en/): Muhsen al-Mustafa is a research assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies. He previously served as a research assistant at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center and was a nonresident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy from May 2022 to May 2023, where his work focused on security, military affairs, and governance in Syria. He has authored numerous studies and articles examining the structure and evolution of Syria’s military establishment, which are available at www.muhsenalmustafa.com. Diwan interviewed Mustafa this week to get his perspective on the recent violence in Syria’s coastal areas, and the implications for the country’s future.
- [Suriye’de yeni dönem: Muhalifler nasıl bir yol izleyecek? (TR)](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/suriye-de-yeni-doenem/): Suriyeli muhaliflerin geçmişteki hatalarından ve diğer ülkelerin devrim deneyimlerinden çok şey öğrendikleri söylenebilir. Şimdi odak noktası devlet inşası aşamasına geçmektir.
- [From Belfast to Damascus](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/from-belfast-to-damascus/): At first glance Syria and Northern Ireland seem distant in culture, politics, and history. Yet, a deeper look reveals shared experiences – primarily the drive for self-determination and the challenges posed by deeply rooted sectarian divides. In both the now (largely) resolved Northern Irish conflict and the continuing strife in Syria political issues have intertwined with societal and religious dynamics that added multiple layers of complexity to the peace process in Northern Ireland, and could well do the same in any peaceful resolution in Syria.
- [Syrian Amnesty Decree 27: Old Policy, No Progress](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrian_amnesty_decree_27/): On September 22, 2024, Bashar al-Assad issued Legislative Decree No. 27 of 2024,(1) granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before this date. This decree is the latest in a series of amnesty decrees issued by the regime, a trend that has accelerated since 2011.
- [Increase in the Share of the Baath Party and Minor Changes in Religious Composition:What’s New in Jalali’s Government?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/aljalali_syria_gov_en/): After the Assad regime conducted the 2024 legislative elections, the government of Hussein Arnous was deemed resigned according to Article 125 of the 2012 Constitution, necessitating the formation of a new government. On September 14, 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued Decree No. 223, appointing Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali to form the new government, which was announced on September 23, less than ten days after his appointment.
- [Ba’ath Party Elections 2024..Restructuring and Assad’s Control Dynamics](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/baath_party_elections/): For More: https://bit.ly/3MuUZgx
- [A Criminal Without Remorse: Assad in Parliament on the Anniversary of Chemical Massacre](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/assad_criminal_without_remorse_en/): According to Article 64 of the 2012 constitution, Bashar al-Assad could have convened the new People's Assembly on any day.
- [Syria’s Reserve Military Service Transformations and Objectives](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syria-reserve-military-service/): Reserve service has been one of the most significant human resource components of the Syrian Regime Army, yet it has also posed one of the greatest challenges and obstacles for Syrians, especially after 2011. This is due to its extended duration(), with recruits unable to ascertain the length of their service or their discharge date.
- [Regime in transition](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/regime-in-transition/): The word “transition” has never been welcomed in Damascus as it is synonymous with “regime change”. The Russians suppressed its use in the drafting process of UNSCR 2254, and the UN Special Envoy has studiously kept it in his banished words list. Recently, however, the word has regained some popularity in the Syrian capital, with none other than Bashar Assad leading the way in its renewed use. After the 15 July parliamentary elections Assad declared: “The conflict had been a military conflict and a constitutional conflict. It was about preserving the constitution that represents the essence of the state. Now this issue is behind us. Today, we are in a transitional phase that is linked to visions regarding the role of the state and its institutions, policies, and orientation." Concurrent with this statement has come change in the security and military institutions, the Baath Party, and in state-owned companies. Cumulatively, these changes point to what Assad is ready to offer the Arabs by way of ‘reforms.’ It’s not a transition in the proper sense; but neither is it fully cosmetic.
- [Comment: Legislative Decree 17 of 2024 – A one-time financial grant ](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/grant_sy_en/): A one-time financial grant with an amount of 300,000 SYP to all the civilian and military state employees and the pensioners.
- [Military Field Court: Nullification and a No Change Approach](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/military-field-court-syria/): On September 3, 2023, Bashar al-Assad announced Legislative Decree 32 of 2023(1), which nullified Legislative Decree 109 of 1968 and its subsequent amendments. Which eventually had established the Military Field Court(2). With this new decree, all ongoing cases will be transferred to the military judiciary, where they will be prosecuted under the Penal Code and Military Procedure and its amendments(3).
- [How a Drug Kingpin is Running Flights from Damascus to the Rest of the World](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/how-a-drug-kingpin-is-running-flights-from-damascus-to-the-rest-of-the-world/): A new travel agency with offices in Damascus and Dubai recently announced direct flights from Damascus to European cities for the first time in over a decade. Our research reveals that the agency and its Greece-based “exclusive” partner airline are associated with drug kingpin Mahmoud Abdulilah al-Dj(1) who has been sentenced to death in Libya for drug trafficking. Al-Dj is also the exclusive agent of US-sanctioned Cham Wings in Libya, which has been accused of “ money throughout the region” and “ weapons and equipment for the Syrian regime.” We’re concerned that the Greek airline, Air Mediterranean, could wittingly or unwittingly be doing the same. Air Mediterranean might havealso engaged in the unsafe aviation practice of switching a transponder off during a flight.
- [Assad is appointing new military officials to escape sanctions on Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/assad-is-appointing-new-military-officials-to-escape-sanctions-on-syria/): As a response to the Syrian uprising in 2011 and the bloody events that followed, the United States, United Kingdom, and several European countries blacklisted many Syrian regime officials who had been involved in mass human rights violations in Syria. These countries barred these individuals from crossing into their borders and froze their bank accounts.
- [Fight or Flight: The Syrian Conscription Nightmare](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/fight-or-flight-the-syrian-conscription-nightmare/): In war-torn Syria, Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has exploited conscription to control the society and extract financial resources. This further impoverishes the society while favoring corruption and the president’s centralization efforts.
- [Anlama Kılavuzu: Esed Rejiminin Af İlanları (TR)](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/anlama-kilavuzu-esed-rejiminin-af-ilanlari/): 2011 yılında patlak veren Suriye’deki iç savaş, bugüne değin Esed rejimi tarafından ilan edilen “af kararları” özelinde Türkiye’deki kamuoyu tarafından ilgiyle takip edilmektedir. Bazı kesimler, Esed rejiminin söz konusu af kararları ile Suriyeli sığınmacılara ve hatta Suriye’deki Suriyeli muhaliflere kapılarını açtığı düşüncesindedir. Ancak af kararlarının tam olarak neye yönelik olduğu ve sahadaki gerçek etkisi çoğu zaman göz ardı edilmektedir. Bununla birlikte Esed rejiminin çıkardığı af kararlarının, Türkiye’de “Esed af çıkardı. Suriyeli sığınmacılar neden geri dönmüyor?” sorusu etrafında ele alındığı gözlemlenmektedir.
- [Disaster and Dystopia: The Earthquake in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/disaster-and-dystopia-the-earthquake-in-southern-turkey-and-northern-syria/): The devastating earthquake will be a tipping point in modern history, where a large number of Syrians and Turks—myself included—will remember it as one in which many of their loved ones lost their lives.
- [Salary Increases A Syrian Regime Policy Driving the Militarization of Society](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/salary_increases_syrian_regime/): Executive summary
- [The Selective Return of Syrian Refugees](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/the-selective-return-of-syrian-refugees/): It seems as though the Assad regime prefers the return of populations going back to rural areas more than those returning to cities.
- [The Syrian Regime Signals Legal and Military Shifts to the World](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrian_regime_signals_legal_military_en/): Since mid-2021, the Syrian regime has introduced a set of new policies targeting a number of vital sectors.
- [Assad’s Illusion of Amnesty](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/assads-illusion-of-amnesty/): The April 30, 2022 amnesty decree by Bashar al-Assad was presented as a major, unprecedented step toward a post-conflict phase, but real-world data show that little has changed: the situation in Syria remains dire, with ongoing arrests and detentions that violate legal and humanitarian norms.
- [The Influence of Allies on the Chain of Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/influence-allies-en/): The overall structure of the Syrian army and armed forces has fallen under the influence of the ruling political regime’s allies since 2011, to varying degrees and at all levels.
- [The Chain of Command in the Syrian Military: Formal and Informal Tracks](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/the-chain-of-command-in-the-syrian-military/): When Syria’s popular protests sparked in 2011, the Syrian regime quickly used the military to suppress demonstrations initially and then confront the armed opposition fighters. This prolonged the military conflict and directly impacted the human resources of many military units. Military units suffered from defections, escape, non-joining, and the killing, wounding, and capturing of many soldiers. As a result of the successive military operations by opposition fighters in the early years of the revolution, the army also struggled on a logistical level, with equipment and its headquarters became strained. The military units were also affected by the redeployment operations carried out by the regime. The redeployment operations re-organized the regime’s military units, moving them from their original base location to other districts within Syria. This prompted the establishment of new formations by including units of different subordination within a new military body or unit.
- [How Reliable are Russian Air Defence Systems?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/how-reliable-are-russian-air-defence-systems/): Over the past two years, the various battlefields of Syria, Libya and Armenia were a key stage for Russian weapons and especially Russian air defence systems to demonstrate their effectiveness. Despite the Russian claims asserting the effectiveness of Russian weapons, especially Russian air defence systems, they proved to be unreliable numerous times across these three theatres of conflict, as I demonstrate in the appendix that follows this article.
- [Russia keeps the post of Syrian Chief of the General Staff](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/russia_syria_staff_en/): Almost four years ago, on January 1, 2018, the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, issued Decree No. 1 of 2018, which stipulates a government amendment that includes the Ministers of Defense, Industry and Information, and as a result of this decree, General Ali Abdullah Ayoub, who was serving as Chief of Staff, was appointed as Minister of Defense, succeeding General Fahd Jassim al-Freij, while the position of Chief of the General Staff has remained vacant since then, despite the exceptional circumstances that the country has been going through since 2011.
- [Recruitment of Women into the Syrian Army: A National Justification](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/recruitment-of-women-syrian-army/): Although 40 years have passed since the recruitment of women into the Syrian Arab Army, the process has not progressed significantly, and remains in the realm of the ruling regime’s need, as a national justification rather than a national need.
- [Syrian Armed Forces Deployment: Point of No Return](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syrian-armed-forces-deployment-point-of-no-return/): The Syrian armed forces deployment strategy matches an emerging strategic threat and makes a return to the barracks unlikely.
- [Fighting on Two Fronts](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/fighting-on-two-fronts-en/): The Syrian military’s efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic have not greatly affected its operations.
- [Brothers in Arms](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/brothers-in-arms-en/): In recent years Syria’s military has been characterized by an unprecedented degree of sectarianism.
- [Power Centers in the Syrian Army 2020:A Sectarian Approach](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/sectarian-alawite-approach/): Executive Summary
- [Drain Society, Feed the Military](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/drain_society_en/): Changes to Syria’s conscription law will prevent the repairing of relations between the armed forces and civilians.

## Pages
- [Compulsory and Reserve ServiceDuration in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/compulsory-and-reserve-serviceduration-in-syria/): Compulsory and Reserve Service Duration Program Compulsory and Reserve Service Duration in Syria اختر اللغة / Select Language: العربية English اختر آخر شهادة دراسية: لا توجد شهادة شهادة التعليم الأساسي شهادة التعليم الثانوي شهادة معهد جامعي أربع سنوات جامعي 5 سنوات أو أعلى تعليم عالي (ماجستير أو دكتوراه) معدل التخرج: اختر نوع الخدمة: خدمة ميدانية خدمة ثابتة تاريخ الالتحاق: الفئة: الرتبة: تاريخ التسريح: مدة الخدمة الإلزامية: مدة الخدمة الاحتياطية: مدة الخدمة الإجمالية: سنة، شهر Select The Latet Certificate: No Degree Basic Education Certificate Secondary Education Certificate Institute Certificate Four-Year University Degree Five-Year University Degree or Higher Higher Education (Master's or Doctorate) GPA: Select Service Type: Field Service Stationary Service Enrollment Date: Category: Individuals Rank: Private Discharge Date: 01/04/2029 Compulsory Service Duration: 21 months Reserve Service Duration: 24 months 21 months - Compulsory Service 24 months - Reserve Service Total Service Duration: 3 years, 9 months
- [The Assad regime’s last government](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/the-assad-regime-government/)
- [The Assad regime’s last governors](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/syria-governors/)
- [Central Committee of the Ba’ath Party](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/central-committee-of-the-baath-party/)
- [Central Command of the Ba’ath Party](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/central-command-of-the-baath-party/)
- [Salaries and cost of living under the Assad regime](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/salaries-and-cost-of-living-under-the-assad-regime/)
- [Salaries and cost of living in Syrian Gov areas](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/salaries-and-cost-of-living-in-syrian-gov-areas/)
- [Exemption fee in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/exemption-fee-for-compulsory-and-reserve-service/): ' + message + '
- [Contact me](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/contact-me/): Contact Me using the form First Name *Email Address *Phone NumberMessage0 / 180Submit
- [About Me](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/about-me/): I joined the Omran Center for Strategic Studies in early 2018, as part of a joint program between the Omran Center and the Carnegie Middle East Center on civil-military relations in Arab countries in general, and Syria in particular. During my work until 2021, I contributed to the launch of the Tawazon website, which publishes an index of civil-military relations in Arab countries.
- [Publications](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/publications-en/)
- [Homepage](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/): ✴︎

## Appearances
- [Arrestin a terrorist cell is carried out by the Syrian Ministry of Interior](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/arrestin-a-terrorist-cell-is-carried-out-by-the-syrian-ministry-of-interior/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, said that the Interior Ministry’s announcement of arresting a cell that had been planning to target the Mezzeh neighborhood and the military airport reflects the success of preemptive security work, by detaining the members before execution—something he considered an indication of improved intelligence accuracy and growing coordination between the Interior Ministry and the General Intelligence Service.
- [The Internal Security forces entered Al-Hasakah and the rural areas of Kobani—how did the first day of the agreement go?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/internal-security-forces-enter-hasakah-en/): Explained Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, during his appearance on the program “Syria Today” on “Syria TV” to discuss the path of “the return of state sovereignty,” that the agreement with «SDF» has entered a decisive test, emphasizing that the continuation of violations—especially the arrest of civilians for having welcomed the Internal Security forces—poses an existential threat to any settlement. He considered that the failure to immediately release detainees, and the failure to show “a genuine intent” to abide by the agreement, practically means the agreement is threatened with being overturned, which could return the situation to square one and make a resumption of military operations more likely.
- [The SDF withdraws from al-Hol camp, and the Syrian army shows its readiness to secure the area.](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/the-sdf-withdraws-from-al-hol-camp-and-the-syrian-army-shows-its-readiness-to-secure-the-area/): Clarified Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, that the “SDF” mistakenly banked on time, the continuation of sanctions, and the government’s isolation to extract a federal formula, in addition to betting on the international coalition’s need for it. He confirmed that the “SDF” has effectively ended in its basic form, whether it accepts the agreement or not, stressing that if it does not adhere to the agreement’s provisions or the ceasefire, then a military solution will be the only option available to the Syrian state to close its file completely.
- [Evacuation of SDF militants from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, and the U.S. envoy discusses developments in Aleppo with al-Sharaa](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/evacuation-of-sdf-militants-from-the-sheikh-maqsoud-neighborhood-and-the-u-s-envoy-discusses-developments-in-aleppo-with-al-sharaa/): أوضح محسن المصطفى، الباحث في مركز عمران للدراسات الاستراتيجية، في لقاء ضمن برنامج سوريا اليوم على تلفزيون سوريا، أن “قسد” لم تستوعب بعد التحوّلات التي رافقت سقوط النظام ومسار السلام داخل تركيا، مؤكداً عدم وجود مؤشرات على تغيّر جوهري في الاستراتيجية الأمريكية، مع تدخل المبعوث الأمريكي توماس براك لاحتواء التصعيد وربطه بالتزام الحكومة باتفاق 10 آذار.
- [Lebanon moves against remnants of the ousted regime on its territory](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/lebanon-moves-against-remnants-of-the-ousted-regime-on-its-territory/)
- [Expectations about an anticipated announcement of an agreement between the government and the SDF under international pressure.. When and what are its terms?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/expectations-about-an-anticipated-announcement-of-an-agreement-between-the-government-and-the-sdf-under-international-pressure-when-and-what-are-its-terms/): Muhsen AlMustafa cast doubt on the seriousness and speed of implementing the anticipated military agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), considering that the SDF is pursuing a policy of procrastination and buying time while waiting for changes that would help it evade the “March 10 Agreement,” citing its inflation of its fighter numbers to 90,000 and its recent field provocations.
- [Syria joins the international coalition, marking the beginning of a new phase in the war on terrorism](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/syria-joins-the-international-coalition-marking-the-beginning-of-a-new-phase-in-the-war-on-terrorism/)
- [Opening the door to the return of defected non-commissioned officers… how will it affect the army’s composition?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/opening-the-door-to-the-return-of-defected-non-commissioned-officers-how-will-it-affect-the-armys-composition/)
- [How will the relationship between the military and the civil state be built in the new Syria?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/how-will-the-relationship-between-the-military-and-the-civil-state-be-built-in-the-new-syria/): Researcher at the Omran Center for Studies, Muhsen AlMustafa, discussed during his participation in the “Syria Today” program on Syria TV how to build the relationship between the military and the civil state in the new Syria.
- [Security unrest shakes Hama.. who is responsible?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/security-unrest-shakes-hama-who-is-responsible/): This episode of the program “Syria Today” on Syria TV discusses the escalating security unrest in Hama province, manifested through a series of assassinations and a surge in mysterious killings in the countryside, especially in multi-sectarian areas. Muhsen AlMustafa noted that the worsening situation in Hama’s countryside is mainly linked to a large legacy of uncontrolled weapons resulting from years of conflict, pointing out that most of those targeted in these operations are people said to be involved in crimes with the ousted regime, which suggests retaliatory motives.
- [Syrian negotiations with Israel and Minister Asaad al-Shaybani’s visit to the United States](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/syrian-negotiations-with-israel-and-minister-asaad-al-shaybanis-visit-to-the-united-states/): The television interview discussed the Syrian negotiations with Israel and the security agreement that may be signed with it; it also covered Minister Asaad al-Shaybani’s visit to the United States of America, and the issue of dealing with the SDF in the event of the failure of the agreement signed on March 10, 2025.
- [A high-level American military delegation meets al-Sharaa in Damascus… what did it discuss?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/a-high-level-american-military-delegation-meets-al-sharaa-in-damascus-what-did-it-discuss/): Discussion on the “Syria Today” program on Syria TV about the visit of the American delegation headed by Admiral Brad Cooper to Damascus, where President Ahmad al-Sharaa met both the commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, and the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Brak. The Presidency said the meeting discussed prospects for cooperation in the political and military fields in a way that serves common interests and consolidates the foundations of security and stability in Syria and the region.
- [New decisions at the Ministry of Defense… what’s behind the timing and the substance?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/new-decisions-at-the-ministry-of-defense-whats-behind-the-timing-and-the-substance/): New decisions at the Ministry of Defense... what lies behind the timing and the substance? The Ministry of Defense issued a package of new regulatory decisions to control military operations, especially regarding the military uniform and the insignia placed on it. The ministry decided to ban military photography in all its forms at military sites, and the decisions included prohibiting the holding of graduation drills using live ammunition in military courses.
- [Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) breaches Syrians’ data… an investigation reveals the details](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/irans-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-breaches-syrians-data-an-investigation-reveals-the-details/)
- [Mobile phone SIM cards… the Iranian “Trojan Horse” that spies on Syrians!](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/mobile-phone-sim-cards-the-iranian-trojan-horse-that-spies-on-syrians/): A Syria TV investigation revealed a spying method by which Iran infiltrated Syrians’ pockets: SIM cards manufactured in Tehran by a company affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
- [Washington encourages the SDF to integrate in order to unify the reference framework in combating ISIS](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/washington-encourages-the-sdf-to-integrate-in-order-to-unify-the-reference-framework-in-combating-isis/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa believes that U.S. funding for the SDF is actually allocated to fighting ISIS rather than sustaining its existence, and he confirms that Washington prefers the SDF to integrate with the Syrian army. He warns that its intransigence could lead to its sidelining, noting that the United States may regard the new Syrian government as an alternative legitimate partner in the future
- [A study reveals an economic structure for al-Assad’s officers](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/a-study-reveals-an-economic-structure-for-al-assads-officers/): During his participation in the “Syria Today” program on Syria TV, researcher Muhsen AlMustafa reviewed the main points of his research paper issued by the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, entitled: “Assad’s Officers’ Companies: The Necessity of Disclosure, Accountability, and Redirecting Resources.” AlMustafa discussed the adopted research methodology and the mechanisms for tracing companies linked to regime officers, highlighting the motives behind establishing these entities, their methods of evading sanctions, and the ways state institutions could address them.
- [The objectives of the Israeli aggression on Syria and its challenges](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/the-objectives-of-the-israeli-aggression-on-syria-and-its-challenges/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa gave a commentary on the security and military situation in the Syrian coast, explaining that the campaign by remnants of the regime had been prearranged. He also said that most of the violations that occurred may have been carried out by these remnants, especially since there had been prior threats from their leaders against members of the Alawite community who support the new Syrian administration.
- [Where has the formation of the new Syrian army reached?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/where-has-the-formation-of-the-new-syrian-army-reached/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa from the Omran Center for Studies spoke about the recent steps taken by the new Ministry of Defense and their effectiveness. He also discussed the main challenges facing the building of a strong army, foremost among them organizational challenges, restructuring, and then rebuilding the army’s military capabilities in terms of equipment and weapons.
- [The fate of the military factions and the fate of the defected officers in the new Ministry of Defense?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/the-fate-of-the-military-factions-and-the-fate-of-the-defected-officers-in-the-new-ministry-of-defense-2/)
- [The fate of the military factions and the fate of the defected officers in the new Ministry of Defense?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/the-fate-of-the-military-factions-and-the-fate-of-the-defected-officers-in-the-new-ministry-of-defense/)
- [A study reveals the regime’s manipulation of Syrians’ salaries](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/a-study-reveals-the-regimes-manipulation-of-syrians-salaries/): A study published by the Omran Center for Strategic Studies revealed that the Assad regime’s salary policies for state employees push society toward militarization by increasing the salaries of military personnel, which exceed those of civilian government jobs. It highlights that salary scales grant the lowest military rank for volunteers with the least educational qualifications a wage higher than that of a newly employed state worker holding advanced degrees such as a master’s or a doctorate.
- [A terrifying study… who controls Assad’s army and what role do the Alawites play?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/a-terrifying-study-who-controls-assads-army-and-what-role-do-the-alawites-play/)
- [“The Alawitization” of the army in a recent study… this is how Assad built an army of killing and looting.](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/appearance/the-alawitization-of-the-army-in-a-recent-study-this-is-how-assad-built-an-army-of-killing-and-looting/): The Omran Center for Strategic Studies presented an analytical paper revealing how the Assad regime carried out the “Alawitization” of the army—facilitating control over it through Alawite sectarianism. The center pointed out that Assad’s regime distributed the forty most important military positions among his relatives, members of his sect, and areas of their concentration, especially his family’s hometown of Qardaha and its neighbor Jableh.

## Statements
- [A military offensive endangers Kurdish autonomy in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/a-military-offensive-endangers-kurdish-autonomy-in-syria/): English
- [Respond to the investigation regarding Syria: conscientious objection and evasion of military service](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/respond-to-the-investigation-regarding-syria-conscientious-objection-and-evasion-of-military-service/): As part of a report by the Austrian Red Cross and the Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation on conscription and military service in Syria, a set of answers was provided via email as a research contribution by Muhsen AlMustafa; the report is available in German.
- [“A stray bullet”… Could uncontrolled weapons trap Syria in an endless cycle of violence?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/a-stray-bullet-could-uncontrolled-weapons-trap-syria-in-an-endless-cycle-of-violence/): The researcher focused on the direct repercussions of weapon proliferation on social structure and local relations. Muhsen AlMustafa, a specialist in security and military affairs and a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Studies, presented a broader approach that addressed the security, economic, and legislative dimensions of this phenomenon. He pointed out that the conflict in Syria imposed the need for armament at different levels and types, a need that became more pressing as the pace of confrontations escalated. With the later disintegration of the security control system, individual and medium weapons became a central element in local dynamics, not only as tools of combat but also as means of domination and control.
- [Security agreement with Turkey contributes to Syria’s regional repositioning](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/security-agreement-with-turkey-contributes-to-syrias-regional-repositioning-2/): Le chercheur Muhsen AlMustafa, spécialiste des affaires militaires et sécuritaires au Centre Omran, a déclaré dans un entretien accordé à L’Orient Today (15 août 2025) que l’accord de sécurité signé le 13 août 2025 entre Damas et Ankara représente la première coopération militaire directe et officielle entre les deux pays depuis la chute du régime Assad. L’accord comprend des programmes de formation militaire, un soutien technique et consultatif, ainsi qu’une assistance logistique, ce qui en fait un tournant qualitatif par rapport à la coordination informelle ou au soutien par procuration. Selon lui, cette étape place la Turquie en position de principal parrain régional du nouveau gouvernement syrien dans le secteur de la défense, grâce à un engagement institutionnel explicite qui consacre sa présence au sein de l’architecture défensive syrienne.
- [The Syria–Turkey military agreement: a new approach restrained by limitations](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-syria-turkey-military-agreement-a-new-approach-restrained-by-limitations/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, specializing in military and security affairs, believes that the military cooperation agreement between Syria and Turkey reflects a shift in Ankara’s approach—from supporting factions to forming an institutional partnership with Damascus—giving relations a new direction. He expects the agreement to enhance the Syrian government’s ability to maintain security but rules out its development into a joint defense pact in the near future due to Syria’s fragile legal framework, international reservations (especially concerning Israel), and the sensitivity of Turkey’s position within NATO.
- [What are Israel and Syria negotiating, and why could it be historic?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-are-israel-and-syria-negotiating-and-why-could-it-be-historic/): Muhsen AlMustafa, investigador del centro Omran de estudios estratégicos, aclara que “no estamos ante una negociación de paz en el sentido tradicional, sino ante una desactivación de tensiones en materia de seguridad”. A su juicio, el diálogo busca “reafirmar y ampliar el marco del Acuerdo de Separación de 1974”, con medidas como nuevas zonas desmilitarizadas y mecanismos de vigilancia conjunta.
- [What does Washington’s decision to remove Syria from the list of “rogue states” mean?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-does-washingtons-decision-to-remove-syria-from-the-list-of-rogue-states-mean/): Military and security affairs analyst Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies said that the step of removing Syria from the list of “rogue states” comes within the context of translating the American shift regarding sanctions imposed on Syria, as the previous U.S. decision to lift all sanctions represented a radical change in American policy toward Damascus.
- [Six months after Assad’s fall, the hidden side of the rebels’ lightning-fast offensive](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/six-months-after-assads-fall-the-hidden-side-of-the-rebels-lightning-fast-offensive/): Le chercheur Muhsen AlMustafa du Centre Omran pour les études a offert un aperçu des coulisses de l’offensive éclair lancée par les rebelles, proposant une lecture approfondie des dimensions de l’attaque qui a renversé le régime de Bachar al-Assad. Il a expliqué qu’Alep constituait la cible la plus sensible, à la fois symboliquement et stratégiquement, et que des unités d’élite de Hayat Tahrir al-Sham avaient mené des frappes précises parallèlement à des cyberattaques qui ont paralysé la capacité du régime à riposter et détruit sa structure de commandement. Il a également souligné que l’effondrement militaire n’a pas été soudain, mais le résultat d’un processus de préparation systématique entamé dès les attaques du 7 octobre 2023, accompagné de brèches sécuritaires et de compromis préalables sur le terrain.
- [Syria: European sanctions “futile” against commanders and military units](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/syria-european-sanctions-futile-against-commanders-and-military-units/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa, a specialist in military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper that the new European sanctions fall within the framework of assigning responsibility for violations committed on the Syrian coast, and considered them a message directed to the new Syrian government to prevent the recurrence of such violations on the coast or in any other area in the future.
- [Soldiers of the deposed Assad regime in Syria: what is their fate in light of international experiences?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/soldiers-of-the-deposed-assad-regime-in-syria-what-is-their-fate-in-light-of-international-experiences/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center believes that international experiences in restructuring armies after conflicts—such as in Iraq, Lebanon, South Africa, and Rwanda—can offer inspiring lessons rather than ready-made prescriptions, since the Syrian case has its own complex specificity.
- [Does Trump’s decision bring a glimmer of hope for the Syrian economy? Experts explain the impacts](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/does-trumps-decision-bring-a-glimmer-of-hope-for-the-syrian-economy-experts-explain-the-impacts/): Muhsen AlMustafa, researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, says that the benefits for Damascus are very significant; supporting countries will be able to deal with Syrian state institutions “without reservation,” including financial support, aid, and investments, in addition to contributing to the lifting of sanctions on the Central Bank of Syria.
- [The challenges of Syria’s transitional phase appear significant](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-challenges-of-syrias-transitional-phase-appear-significant/): En una entrevista realizada en febrero de 2025 y publicada en la revista española impresa Política Exterior @PolExt en su número 74 el 21 de abril de 2025, el investigador asistente Muhsen AlMustafa abordó los desafíos que enfrenta Siria en la fase de transición, subrayando la importancia del sistema de reconciliación para reforzar la estabilidad y el desarme. Negó que las detenciones se dirijan específicamente contra la comunidad alauita, aclarando que las medidas están relacionadas con antiguos criminales de guerra militares, al tiempo que advirtió sobre los riesgos de una rebelión armada en sus zonas si no se abordan las causas profundas en los niveles de seguridad, social y económico. También describió el acuerdo entre Damasco y las Fuerzas Democráticas Sirias (FDS) como positivo, enfatizando la necesidad de su implementación real y del respeto a los derechos culturales y locales para garantizar su éxito.
- [Its spread among civilians and factions destabilizes security, The new Syria faces the challenge of disarmament](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/its-spread-among-civilians-and-factions-destabilizes-security-the-new-syria-faces-the-challenge-of-disarmament/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, specializing in military and security affairs, told Enab Baladi that the Syrian state’s capacity to control weapons “appears good so far,” despite field complexities, noting that the general trend is moving toward restricting weapons to the state’s hands. He considered that the state has gradual tools to move forward, including integration programs, reconciliations, and incentives to join the military and internal security institutions, predicting the adoption of a new weapons possession law after the activation of the People’s Assembly, in line with the requirements of the phase.
- [The Eighth Brigade: A ‘serious start’ to dismantling Syria’s paramilitary structures](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-eighth-brigade-a-serious-start-to-dismantling-syrias-paramilitary-structures/): Le chercheur Muhsen AlMustafa a décrit la dissolution de la Huitième Brigade comme un tournant dans le démantèlement des structures militaires parallèles dans le sud de la Syrie. Il a noté que l’assassinat de Bilal al-Droubi — qui avait l’intention de rejoindre le ministère de la Défense — a probablement déclenché cette décision, car elle a été perçue par la brigade comme une menace.
- [Turkey and Israel seek common ground in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/turkey-and-israel-seek-common-ground-in-syria/): Le chercheur Muhsen Almustafa estime que les premières étapes de la coordination sur le terrain entre la Turquie et Israël sont en cours afin d’éviter une confrontation et de délimiter les zones d’influence en Syrie. Il suggère qu’Ankara pourrait assumer le rôle de garant pour empêcher que le territoire syrien ne soit utilisé contre Israël.
- [This is the new Syrian government: designed and controlled by the Islamist president, with 22 ministers and one female minister](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/this-is-the-new-syrian-government-designed-and-controlled-by-the-islamist-president-with-22-ministers-and-one-female-minister/): El investigador Muhsen AlMustafa, del Centro Omran de Estudios Estratégicos, afirmó que el nuevo gobierno enfrenta enormes desafíos, pero su formación representó un paso necesario y urgente en el contexto de la nueva etapa tras la caída del régimen. Explicó que “la prioridad del presidente Ahmad al-Sharaa es erradicar la corrupción, mejorar la eficiencia de la administración pública y restablecer los servicios básicos para los ciudadanos”, y añadió que “la mayoría de los miembros del gabinete son tecnócratas seleccionados en función de su competencia e independencia, en un intento de superar el reparto de cuotas y las lealtades partidistas”.
- [Israeli escalation against Syria.. objectives and outcomes](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/israeli-escalation-against-syria-objectives-and-outcomes/): Alongside sending a message to Turkey, Israel aims through its operations to completely destroy what remains of Syria’s military infrastructure, said researcher assistant Muhsen AlMustafa, a military and security affairs specialist at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, in a statement to Al-Khaleej Online.
- [What does Assad’s fall mean for Syrian asylum seekers in Europe?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-does-assads-fall-mean-for-syrian-asylum-seekers-in-europe/): While the security situation has improved since Assad’s fall—reducing the risk of arbitrary arrests, torture, and regime bombardments—Syria remains a post-war environment,” Muhsen al-Mustafa, an Istanbul-based researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, tells Raseef22. “This means conditions are still in flux, and full stabilization will take years.
- [‘You started this’: Attacks on Alawites in Syria highlight deep divisions](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/you-started-this-attacks-on-alawites-in-syria-highlight-deep-divisions/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a research assistant at the Istanbul-based Omran Center for Strategic Studies, said in a phone interview Monday that while he felt the security situation in Syria was more stable now, there was still widespread “confusion” about the state of “peace inside the country.”
- [Miqdad al-Fatiha, the pro-Assad bodybuilder at war with the new Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/miqdad-al-fatiha-the-pro-assad-bodybuilder-at-war-with-the-new-syria/): Le chercheur Muhsen AlMustafa a déclaré que Miqdad al-Fatiha, un ancien officier du régime Assad, exploite le chaos post-effondrement pour échapper à la justice concernant des crimes passés, y compris des actes de brutalité contre des civils. Il a estimé que la « Brigade du Bouclier Côtier » d’al-Fatiha pourrait compter jusqu’à 4 000 combattants, mais qu’elle a perdu le soutien populaire après ses récents échecs.
- [Ghiath Dalla: Architect of the rebellion against Syrian forces, Iran’s trusted man](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/ghiath-dalla-architect-of-the-rebellion-against-syrian-forces-irans-trusted-man/): Le chercheur Muhsen AlMustafa, du Centre Omran d’études stratégiques, affirme que Ghiyath Dalla est une figure militaire de premier plan impliquée dans des crimes de guerre et des crimes contre l’humanité. Selon lui, Dalla a dirigé des massacres documentés à Daraya, Mouadamiyah, Mleiha et Deraa, en plus d’avoir utilisé le siège et la famine comme armes contre les civils. Ses forces ont également été impliquées dans des pillages, des exécutions sommaires et des déplacements forcés, ce qui fait de lui l’un des plus hauts responsables militaires de certaines des pires atrocités de la guerre en Syrie.
- [What is happening in Syria: key points to understand the largest wave of violence since Assad’s fall](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-is-happening-in-syria-key-points-to-understand-the-largest-wave-of-violence-since-assads-fall/): El investigador Muhsen AlMustafa, del Centro Omran de Estudios Estratégicos, considera que el reciente ataque no fue un hecho aislado, sino un movimiento calculado de los restos de las élites del ejército y de la inteligencia de la era de Asad para mostrar de nuevo su fuerza. Opina que los enfrentamientos en curso podrían marcar el inicio de una rebelión armada coordinada por leales al antiguo régimen, que buscan recuperar su influencia y controlar zonas en la costa siria.AlMustafa confirmó que algunos grupos indisciplinados cometieron abusos contra civiles en áreas de mayoría alauita, pero también señaló la posibilidad de que fueran los propios leales a Asad quienes perpetraran esos crímenes contra alauitas y otros partidarios de las nuevas autoridades, en cumplimiento de sus amenazas anteriores.
- [Amid the coastal clashes.. who are Assad’s senior officers in hiding?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/amid-the-coastal-clashes-who-are-assads-senior-officers-in-hiding/): The Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Studies, speaking to Alhurra about the fate of senior Assad regime officers who went into hiding after the regime’s fall, said that some of these officers fled to countries such as Russia, Libya, and Iraq, or to areas controlled by the SDF, while others returned to their original regions to hide or prepare to flee later. Although they do not currently pose a major threat, he warned of the potential escalation of their danger in the future, especially in the coastal regions and the rural areas of Homs and Hama.
- [Turkey and the mission of filling the Iranian military vacuum in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/turkey-and-the-mission-of-filling-the-iranian-military-vacuum-in-syria/): The Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Studies considers that Turkey’s military expansion in Syria is no longer just speculation but concrete steps under implementation. Ankara seeks to strengthen its presence through the expansion of military bases, the increased presence of Turkish officers in training centers, and new armament programs for the new Syrian army. However, the success of this expansion depends on the extent to which regional and international powers accept this role, on reaching understandings with Russia and the United States, and on the potential challenges within Syria.
- [Can the armed forces and security services of the Assad regime be integrated into the new Syria?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/can-the-armed-forces-and-security-services-of-the-assad-regime-be-integrated-into-the-new-syria/): El investigador asistente Muhsen AlMustafa, del Centro Omran de Estudios, afirmó que la persecución de los miembros del antiguo régimen en el ejército y en los cuerpos de seguridad se basa en su implicación en los crímenes cometidos durante la guerra, y no en su afiliación sectaria o religiosa. AlMustafa señaló: “Las nuevas autoridades no están apuntando a los alauitas, pero ellos pueden sentirse amenazados porque representaban la mayoría de las fuerzas armadas y de seguridad.” Añadió que cualquier persona que desee denunciar a un militar o a un miembro de un grupo paramilitar por supuestos crímenes debe presentar pruebas ante las nuevas autoridades.
- [Damascus–SDF negotiations.. awaiting “the deal”](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/damascus-sdf-negotiations-awaiting-the-deal/): The Researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, Muhsen AlMustafa, ruled out the possibility of a military clash at the current stage, noting the absence of any indications pointing to that. AlMustafa, who specializes in civil-military relations, clarified that the new administration prefers to avoid bloodshed in resolving conflicts, while keeping the military option open should peaceful solutions falter.
- [“The new Syrian army” faces the dilemma of factional blocs](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-new-syrian-army-faces-the-dilemma-of-factional-blocs/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies explained that “the restructuring of the Ministry of Defense and the army presents a major challenge for the new Syrian administration.” He told Al-Hurra that at the top of these challenges is the process of integrating the military factions into the army after their dissolution. The file of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remains unresolved, especially as negotiations between the two sides continue. AlMustafa noted that the vision presented by its leader Mazloum Abdi resembles, to some extent, the situation of the Peshmerga forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, saying: “This demand is primarily rooted in ethnic reasons.”
- [“We will not leave”.. what does Russia want from the Middle East?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/we-will-not-leave-what-does-russia-want-from-the-middle-east/): Commenting on Lavrov’s statements and their implications, Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies said: “Lavrov does not necessarily mean Syria itself, but the presence in Syria is important for Russia and vital for its pathway into Africa in general and Libya in particular.” AlMustafa told Al-Hurra that “it cannot be said that Russia has lost its bases in Syria until the last Russian soldier leaves, but it seems that the new Syrian administration is exercising extreme caution before making any decision on this matter.”
- [Will foreign fighters in Syria export their jihad?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/will-foreign-fighters-in-syria-export-their-jihad/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a Syrian military analyst, visiting his homeland for the first time in a decade, stated: “The foreign fighters in HTS never carried out a single terrorist attack against the US or EU. After the fall of Assad, they received promotions from Ahmed al-Sharaa. And later, when we have a constitution, granting them Syrian citizenship will be good for everyone. They will be settled, so they don’t go and fight in other countries. The new administration cannot return them to their original countries because they would be arrested and possibly killed under torture.”
- [Military in Syria.. unifying the army is threatened by factionalism](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/military-in-syria-unifying-the-army-is-threatened-by-factionalism/): Researcher assistant Muhsen AlMustafa, specializing in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, commented on the promotion decisions by saying: “It seems that the main reference relied upon by the General Command in assuming responsibility for managing the country is revolutionary legitimacy, amid an almost complete suspension of the constitution and the absence of legislative authority.”
- [What happened to the soldiers who were defending Al-Assad?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-happened-to-the-soldiers-who-were-defending-al-assad/): “A Síria, els membres de les forces de seguretat no tenien un carnet d’identificació normal, sinó militar. Per això, sense el nou carnet civil que reben per un període de tres mesos, no podrien moure’s pel país”, explica Muhsen AlMustafa, expert en seguretat del think tank sirià Omran Studies.
- [Overlooking 4 countries.. what does Israel’s control of Mount Hermon mean militarily?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/overlooking-4-countries-what-does-israels-control-of-mount-hermon-mean-militarily/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies said that “Israel recently took control of Mount Hermon’s peak, which stands at 2,814 meters, for strategic and security reasons, taking advantage of the security vacuum caused by the withdrawal of Assad’s army after the fall of his regime.”
- [After the Israeli strikes.. what are the prospects of building a new army in Syria?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/after-the-israeli-strikes-what-are-the-prospects-of-building-a-new-army-in-syria/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies told Al-Hurra that “from a logistical capability standpoint, it will certainly take many years. The state needs vast amounts of money to rebuild Syria’s military capacities from scratch, and it also needs countries willing to supply Syria with weapons and ensure the continuous and sustainable development of these arms.”
- [11 days end 53 years, military secrets of the battle to topple Assad](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/11-days-end-53-years-military-secrets-of-the-battle-to-topple-assad/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant specializing in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Enab Baladi that indicators of collapse have increased and become clear within the Syrian regime amid the rapid disintegration of its forces and its loss of control over strategic areas. AlMustafa considered that the announcement of a 50% salary increase and the calls for volunteering in auxiliary groups were merely attempts at psychological support for the collapsing army, but Assad did not have the time to rebuild the military institution.
- [What are the forces tasked with protecting Assad?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-are-the-forces-tasked-with-protecting-assad/): According to Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and Syrian military expert Ismail Ayoub, the task of protecting the presidential palace is distributed among three entities. The first is the Republican Guard, the main force responsible for safeguarding Assad’s palace, established decades ago specifically to ensure his and his regime’s protection. For many years, members of the Republican Guard were carefully selected based on physical fitness, loyalty to the regime, and, in many cases, sectarian affiliation, AlMustafa explained. He noted that “the Republican Guard includes highly trained units,” but he doubts its effective strength given the battlefield realities witnessed in Syria over the past week.
- [“Not just a city”.. what if the armed factions took control of Homs?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/not-just-a-city-what-if-the-armed-factions-took-control-of-homs/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies explained that the city carries “military, political, and social importance all at once.” Militarily, Homs hosts the military colleges complex, the 11th Division, the 18th Armored Division, and the command of the central region. If the armed factions managed to reach these sites, it would help them “seize larger amounts of weapons,” according to AlMustafa.
- [“A junction point”.. why does the battle over Hama seem bigger than Aleppo?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/a-junction-point-why-does-the-battle-over-hama-seem-bigger-than-aleppo/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies explained that Hama represents a very strategic location for all parties involved in the Syrian conflict, especially for the armed factions currently trying to seize it. He told Al-Hurra that the city’s importance stems from its geographical position on the international M5 highway, as well as its symbolic role in the Syrian revolution, given its long history of opposing the Assad regime.
- [At the expense of the Syrian regime and Iran… Russia divides the Aleppo cake](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/at-the-expense-of-the-syrian-regime-and-iran-russia-divides-the-aleppo-cake/): The Erdogan–Putin agreement in Moscow on Idlib in March 2020 is considered a turning point that allowed for changes in the area of compulsory service, according to researcher assistant Muhsen AlMustafa, a military relations specialist at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies. He added in an interview with Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the period from mid-2023 to mid-2024 witnessed the issuance of “several administrative orders ending the retention of certain categories serving in the reserves, before, for the first time, an official discussion emerged about a plan to transform into a professional and advanced qualitative army.”
- [The communicating vessels of the iron butterfly: Aleppo falls into rebel hands](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-communicating-vessels-of-the-iron-butterfly-aleppo-falls-into-rebel-hands/): "Hay factores domésticos", puntualiza Muhsen Al Mustafa, investigador en el Centro Omran de Estudios Estratégicos. Pese a que el conflicto llevaba años con los frentes congelados, Asad se ha apoyado en sus aliados para no tener que buscar una negociación que le solicitaban estados árabes y Turquía, al tiempo que mantenía bombardeos sobre las zonas rebeldes para "hacerlas inhabitables".
- [Aleppo offensive.. why are the regime’s areas in Syria falling quickly like “domino” pieces?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/aleppo-offensive-why-are-the-regimes-areas-in-syria-falling-quickly-like-domino-pieces/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies who has been following the activities and formations of the Syrian army for years, explained that “the regime appears alone in the battle. It knew that and did not resist.” He told Al-Hurra: “Its soldiers’ morale is also broken, and they knew they were alone on the battlefield without Iranian militias or Russian forces… it is noticeable that there is a collapse in the chain of command and orders.”
- [How Syrian rebels are closing in on Aleppo?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/how-syrian-rebels-are-closing-in-on-aleppo/): « Selon Mohsen al-Moustafa, du centre de réflexion Omran Center for Strategic Studies basé à Istanbul, les rebelles syriens profitent également du contexte régional. “L’offensive constitue une réponse aux assauts répétés menés par les forces du régime et leurs milices alliées, ainsi que des frappes de drones explosifs croissantes et bombardements menés par l’Iran et le Hezbollah au cours des derniers mois dans le nord-ouest de la Syrie”, explique-t-il. »
- [“Walking through a minefield”.. Assad’s calculations after October 7](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/walking-through-a-minefield-assads-calculations-after-october-7/): The Syrian researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, on the other hand, stated that the regime has “been able throughout the past year and until now to distance itself from the battle.” He told Al-Hurra: “It has not and does not want to intervene because it knows the consequences of such intervention given Israel’s intense aggressiveness.”
- [No prospect of EU-Syria rapprochement](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/no-prospect-of-eu-syria-rapprochement/): Le chercheur au Centre Omran for Strategic Studies, Mohsen al-Moustafa, souligne que la nomination d’un Premier ministre syrien placé sous sanctions européennes est avant tout un message politique. Selon lui, le régime veut montrer qu’il n’est pas disposé à faire des concessions ni à modifier son comportement en échange d’une levée des sanctions ou d’un retour sur la scène internationale.
- [Assad “changes the blood of his army”.. why now?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/assad-changes-the-blood-of-his-army-why-now/): According to Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant specializing in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, the Syrian regime is seeking to attract volunteers in order to “form a solid bloc within the army.” This “solid bloc” relies on volunteers who demonstrate greater loyalty to the regime compared to conscripts serving under compulsory service, who are seen as less reliable due to social and sectarian divisions, he told Al-Hurra.
- [What does regime want from amending age of those eligible to pay military exemption fee?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-does-regime-want-from-amending-age-of-those-eligible-to-pay-military-exemption-fee/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, explained to Enab Baladi that the amendments introduced by the decree did not address the age of reserve military service itself, but rather paragraph “W,” which allowed those paying the financial substitute (whether enlisted or not) to pay $4,800 or its equivalent in Syrian pounds, with a reduction of $200 for each month of service performed by the enlisted person. Paragraph “W” had been added under Legislative Decree No. 37 of 2023.
- [Amendments and exposing corruption: what is the Syrian regime planning inside the Baath Party?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/amendments-and-exposing-corruption-what-is-the-syrian-regime-planning-inside-the-baath-party/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, believes that the main objective of this campaign is to recover the looted funds from the party’s financial allocations and resources, after many years of rampant corruption inside the central leadership of the party. He told Syria TV: “It seems that Bashar al-Assad has granted the new deputy secretary-general, Ibrahim al-Hadid, the authority and green light to carry out the investigation, in an attempt to reclaim the stolen funds.”
- [The Syrian regime goes along with the Arabs through recruitment amendments in the army](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-syrian-regime-goes-along-with-the-arabs-through-recruitment-amendments-in-the-army/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant specializing in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Enab Baladi that the regime began about three years ago to demobilize a number of conscripts after they had spent years in reserve service.
- [What’s new in Syrian regime’s administrative order on military service](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-is-new-in-the-syrian-regimes-administrative-order-regarding-military-service/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, explained the phrase in the last clause to mean that anyone who meets the conditions listed at the end of the third clause will not need a new administrative order to be covered by the demobilization decision.
- [The mafia state.. how does Assad’s regime reward its militia leaders?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-mafia-state-how-does-assads-regime-reward-its-militia-leaders/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Noon Post that this represents “a shared interest and an additional link between the regime and these individuals, which opens a new door for corruption,” stressing that granting these leaders immunity for four years provides them with protection from illicit gains, from which security agency leaders will also benefit.
- [Syria: Refugees return to ‘square one’ at best](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/syria-refugees-return-to-square-one-at-best/): Anders präsentiert sich die Lage im Libanon. Das Land hat eine knapp 375 Kilometer lange Grenze mit Syrien. Auch dieses Gebiet steht unter der Kontrolle von Baschar al-Assad. "Nachdem sie sich mit dem Assad-Regime auf die Namen der Rückkehrer geeinigt haben, finanzieren die libanesischen Sicherheitsbehörden nun die Rückführungen der syrischen Flüchtlinge an die Grenze", sagt Muhsen AlMustafa vom Omran Center for Strategic Studies in Istanbul im DW-Gespräch.
- [Maneuvering between the “Axis of Resistance” and new allies.. Assad evades the Gaza war](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/maneuvering-between-the-axis-of-resistance-and-new-allies-assad-evades-the-gaza-war/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant specializing in civil-military relations at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Enab Baladi that it cannot yet be confirmed that the regime has gained from the Gaza war, although there may have been material benefits from the UAE in return for not escalating against Israel.
- [The appointment of Major General Suhayl Hasan“al-Nimr” to lead the Syrian “Special Forces”: promotion or sidelining?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-appointment-of-al-nimr-to-lead-the-syrian-special-forces-promotion-or-sidelining/): Regarding the mission assigned to “al-Nimr,” researcher assistant specializing in military affairs at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, Muhsen AlMustafa, considered that al-Hassan “is an officer with the necessary capabilities to rebuild the Special Forces, due to his previous experience in counter-terrorism when he was in Air Force Intelligence and later his experience in transforming the Tiger militia into Division 25.
- [What are the prospects of merging security branches into a single formation in Syria?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-are-the-prospects-of-merging-security-branches-into-a-single-formation-in-syria/): Muhsen AlMustafa believes that the nature of the proposed security changes in Syria is still unclear, as it has not yet been decided who will lead the new security apparatus if the Military Intelligence and Air Force Intelligence are merged. He points out that the regime will try to streamline the overlapping branches of the two agencies while keeping the non-overlapping ones, but he recalls that previous restructuring attempts failed due to the complexity and deep interconnections within the security apparatus.
- [Bashar al-Assad restructures Syria’s repression apparatus… remember De Mistura’s fourth basket](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/bashar-al-assad-restructures-syrias-repression-apparatus-remember-de-misturas-fourth-basket/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant specializing in security and military affairs at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, described the changes as “natural within the framework of the regime’s restructuring plan, noting that the pace of changes in security positions is slower than in military ones.” Regarding his appointment to head National Security, AlMustafa explained that a set of qualities qualifies him for the position, most importantly “his closeness to Bashar al-Assad, and previously to Bassel al-Assad, which rooted his loyalty to the regime, despite his lack of extensive experience in foreign affairs compared to Mamlouk.”
- [“Restructuring within a closed system”.. what does Bashar al-Assad want?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/restructuring-within-a-closed-system-what-does-bashar-al-assad-want/): uhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, believes that the security restructuring announced by the Syrian regime has nothing to do with Arab initiatives, explaining that Damascus does not allow any external party to interfere in its security structures. He considers these changes to be a natural outcome for any regime that has gone through conflict, as it later seeks to review the strengths and weaknesses that emerged over the years.
- [Is Damascus seeking a “professional” army?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/is-damascus-seeking-a-professional-army/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies specializing in military and security affairs, believes that building a professional army in Syria is far-fetched, as the army relies on loyalty in appointments and promotions rather than competence and professionalism, despite having an organizational structure of an Eastern style. He considers that human resources are the main obstacle to any transition toward a professional army.
- [New laws.. “incentives” and a “secret plan” to “restructure” the regime’s army](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/new-laws-incentives-and-a-secret-plan-to-restructure-the-regimes-army/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, believes that Assad’s recent military decisions primarily aim to withdraw local militia members and integrate them into the army, since dismantling these groups all at once would be difficult in case they are needed in the future. In addition, the regime seeks to recruit new human resources from young men aged 18 to 32. He stressed that the regime is trying to attract them with financial incentives and exemptions from compulsory service, in order to secure their loyalty and push them to renew their contracts later, making the army’s ability to continue fighting dependent on the cohesion of these volunteers and militias.
- [“The Syrian Ministry of Defense militarizes society through the incentives of ‘Enlist contracts'”](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-syrian-ministry-of-defense-militarizes-society-through-the-incentives-of-enlist-contracts/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies stated that “the privileges announced by the regime are not new; what is new is revealing them so explicitly.” He explained that the Syrian regime needs human resources in a routine sense, like any institution wishing to assert its presence amid the shortage of manpower in Syria, and that this is not necessarily related to military operations.
- [Syria: Country Focus 2023](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/syria-country-focus-2023/): Researcher assistant Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Studies provided the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) with answers to several questions related to military service and the situation in Syria. These contributions were included in the agency’s report titled “Syria: Country Focus 2023,” with the research input first sent by email, followed by an online interview with the agency. The report also drew on several previously published studies.
- [Asma al-Assad.. the uncrowned queen of the Syrian economy](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/asma-al-assad-the-uncrowned-queen-of-the-syrian-economy/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, believes that Asma al-Assad is not the actual leader of the regime, but rather plays a role assigned to her by Bashar al-Assad in coordination with Maher al-Assad. He stresses that her task is to transfer money and build a new economic elite personally loyal to Bashar, Maher, and Hafez Jr., as part of a long-term project aimed at reshaping the regime’s power networks after the old ones, such as Rami Makhlouf, became exposed and vulnerable to Western sanctions.
- [Ending mandatory retention within regime forces.. easing financial and political pressure](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/ending-mandatory-retention-within-regime-forces-easing-financial-and-political-pressure/): Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies told Enab Baladi that this step is partly driven by an attempt to ease the burden on social groups in regime-controlled areas, while ruling out at the same time that it carries messages to Arab countries, considering that the issue is closely tied to the level of manpower in the “army” forces.
- [Fear among Syrian refugees in Turkey ahead of the elections](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/fear-among-syrian-refugees-in-turkey-ahead-of-the-elections/): “Los sirios aquí son beneficiarios de un permiso de residencia temporal que les permite trabajar y acceder a los servicios públicos, como la sanidad y la educación. Pero no gozan del estatuto de refugiados reconocido en las convenciones internacionales”, explica Muhsen alMustafá, un investigador sirio del think tank Omran, basado en Estambul y creado por miembros de la oposición siria. Por esta razón, la comunidad sigue con preocupación el tono que ha adoptado la campaña de las elecciones presidenciales, sobre todo de cara a la segunda vuelta, que se celebrará el próximo domingo 28 de mayo.
- [After years of political isolation, Bashar al-Assad is back at the table](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/after-years-of-political-isolation-bashar-al-assad-is-back-at-the-table/): Now that Assad has discovered how important it is to them to stop the drugs trade to their countries, he can blackmail them with it. And he will, again and again, to try and get more benefits from them
- [Between Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu: What will their Syria policy look like?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/between-erdogan-and-kilicdaroglu-what-will-their-syria-policy-look-like/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and a former non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, expects Erdogan’s current policy to continue if he wins the elections, noting that “voluntary return operations may increase due to the economic crisis and the repercussions of the earthquake,” as he told Syria Direct.
- [Believe me, if I could return to Syria, I would](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/believe-me-if-i-could-return-to-syria-i-would/): Croyez-moi, si je pouvais rentrer en Syrie, je le ferais
- [Syrians fear hunger more than bombs](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/syrians-fear-hunger-more-than-bombs/): Los sirios temen más al hambre que a las bombas
- [How does the Syrian regime blackmail the United Nations into employing the relatives of its officials in its offices?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/how-does-the-syrian-regime-blackmail-the-united-nations-into-employing-the-relatives-of-its-officials-in-its-offices/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and a fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that “the head of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate, Hossam Louka, has three children: Nouri, Natasha, and Satanay. While Nouri is pursuing graduate studies in Russia, Natasha completed her studies in pharmacy and married the son of Ibrahim Othman, head of the Atomic Energy Commission of the Syrian regime. As for Satanay, she studied at the Higher Institute of Business Administration in Damascus.” AlMustafa suggested that she is likely to be employed at a United Nations office.
- [Military militias lead the distribution of earthquake aid in Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/military-militias-lead-the-distribution-of-earthquake-aid-in-syria/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, pointed out the concentration of the Syrian regime forces’ activity in the period immediately following the earthquake. At the official level, the “army” took part in rescue operations and rubble removal, while military hospitals received civilian casualties for treatment.
- [What next for Syrians who returned home after earthquake?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/what-next-for-syrians-who-returned-home-after-earthquake/): Muhsen al-Mustafa, Forscher am 'Omran Center for Strategic Studies' in Istanbul, sagt "Da die Rückkehrer größtenteils nicht in die vom Assad-Regime kontrollierten Gebiete zurückkehren, haben sie keine Angst vor Verfolgung oder Verhaftung durch die Sicherheitskräfte der Regierung"
- [The residents of Daraa are not looking for who benefits from the assassinations… they are leaving.](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-residents-of-daraa-are-not-looking-for-who-benefits-from-the-assassinations-they-are-leaving/): The researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), Muhsen AlMustafa, told Enab Baladi that the targeting operations are confined to three warring parties: the opposition, the regime, and fighters of the Islamic State organization in southern Syria.He considered that the continuation of these targeting operations in the governorate is evidence of the “security failure” of the regime’s agencies and forces there. As for benefit and harm, the researcher explained that the regime does not view human losses as a measure of benefit or harm; what matters to it is controlling the land and imposing its authority over it, regardless of the number of dead from any side, including its own forces.
- [The Syrian regime’s “tactical” projects… Why are the Russians and Maher Al-Assad involved?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/the-syrian-regimes-tactical-projects-why-are-the-russians-and-maher-al-assad-involved/): The researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, Muhsen AlMustafa, believes that the “tactical operational projects” that the Syrian regime has been announcing repeatedly aim to “maintain combat readiness, especially since military operations have decreased, and therefore new soldiers must be brought into the battle atmosphere.”
- [“Doses gradually”… What is behind Al-Assad’s “privileges” for medical staff in Syria?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/doses-gradually-what-is-behind-al-assads-privileges-for-medical-staff-in-syria/): Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, considered that the aim of Legislative Decree No. 16 of 2022, which stipulates the acceptance of doctors as obligated to public service for ten years including military service, is to try to benefit as much as possible from these doctors, especially since it is applied for the first time to a civilian sector, while previously it was in the police sector when a volunteer served five years in order to waive mandatory service.
- [Syria… What are the implications of ending the military retention of medical and engineering students?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/syria-what-are-the-implications-of-ending-the-military-retention-of-medical-and-engineering-students/): The assistant researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, and non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (Timep), Muhsen AlMustafa, explained in an interview with Enab Baladi that the decision related to military service is “closely” tied to the regime’s attempt to curb the migration of skilled professionals. He cited Decree No. 16, which the regime’s president issued two days after the decision, accepting a number of medical students and medical degree holders as obligated to serve in public institutions.He also believes that the Syrian regime is trying to limit the migration of doctors not only because of the shortage in medical staff, but also because, from the regime’s perspective, a medical student studying in Syrian universities for more than six years and then emigrating to work abroad constitutes a “financial loss.”
- [General report Syria May 2022](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/general-report-syria-may-2022/): In a report by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the data was based on several sources, including studies and research papers published by the Omran Center, including the paper "Chain of Command and Order," which was used as a reference in the report.
- [A new defense minister “close” to the regime… Is it valid to appoint a Major General?](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/a-new-defense-minister-close-to-the-regime-is-it-valid-to-appoint-a-major-general/): Muhsen AlMustafa spoke about the circumstances of appointing the new defense minister in the Syrian regime’s government, stressing that military hierarchy is required and respected according to the Military Service Law, but the circumstances in Syria allow the regime to bypass it. The Military Service Law stipulates that promotion rules are not binding during wartime, and promotion to the rank of General is carried out by selecting from among the officers holding the rank of Major General who have served at least four years in that rank, and this promotion is issued by decree.
- [Three interpretations… Al-Assad appoints a Sunni defense minister and carries out structural changes to his forces](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/three-interpretations-al-assad-appoints-a-sunni-defense-minister-and-carries-out-structural-changes-to-his-forces/): Muhsen AlMustafa, believes that "the appointment of Major General Ali Mahmoud Abbas as Minister of Defense is illogical, as he is not the most senior officer after General Ali Ayoub, especially since many generals in the army are more senior than him." Al-Mustafa told Al-Istiqlal: "This is why Abbas was promoted to the rank of General. He has also never commanded a military division or a corps like the other ministers since the era of General Mustafa Tlass, making him the first defense minister to hold the rank of Major General since 1972."
- [2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Syria](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom-syria/): In a March study, Muhsen al-Mustafa, a researcher for the Carnegie Middle East Center, stated that “every single one of the top 40 posts in the Syrian armed forces was held by a member of President Assad’s Alawite sect.” He added, “The entire Syrian military is not built on one particular sect. But in recent years the institution has been characterized by an unprecedented degree of sectarianism.
- [Bachar el-Assad nomme un nouveau ministre de la Défense (FR)](https://muhsenalmustafa.com/statement/bachar-el-assad-nomme-un-nouveau-ministre-de-la-defense-fr/): Muhsen AlMustafa a déclaré à "L’Orient-Le Jour" que « le régime veut en effet réduire le caractère confessionnel des forces armées en plaçant un officier sunnite à l’avant-scène, alors qu’en réalité, le commandement effectif des forces revient à des officiers alaouites, puisque les postes militaires et les centres principaux de l’armée sont dirigés par des officiers issus de la communauté alaouite. Il a ajouté que le rôle du ministre Ali Abbas se concentrera sur les aspects administratifs et la coordination avec les autres institutions publiques, d’autant plus qu’il n’a jamais commandé de division ni d’organisme militaire. »

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