Global InformationNational Defence Forces information
| National Defence Forces قوات الدفاع الوطني | |
|---|---|
  Symbol of the NDF | |
| Active | 1 November 2012 – present |
| Country |  Syria |
| Type | Infantry (militia)[1][2] |
| Role | Reserve army[3] Counter-insurgency |
| Size | 50,000[4] |
| Part of |  Syrian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | 3002 Damascus, Syria (main HQ) With elements in: Aleppo Governorate Hama Governorate Latakia Governorate Tartus Governorate Homs Governorate al-Hasakah Governorate Damascus Governorate As-Suwayda Governorate Deir ez-Zor Governorate[5] |
| Equipment | See List of NDF equipment |
| Engagements | Syrian Civil War:
|
| Commanders | |
| President of Syria | Marshal Bashar al-Assad |
| Minister of Defense | Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas |
| Chief of the General Staff |  Gen. Abdul Karim Mahmoud Ibrahim |
| Current Commander | Brig. Gen. Hawash Mohammed[2][6] |
| Insignia | |
| NDF flag |  |
| National Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| Quwāt ad-Difāʿ al-Watanī | |
| Dates of operation | 1 November 2012 – present |
| Group(s) |
|
| Headquarters | Damascus |
| Active regions | Syria |
| Allies | State allies
Non-state allies
|
| Opponents | State opponents
Non-state opponents
|
| Battles and wars | the Syrian Civil War |
The National Defence Forces (NDF; Arabic: قوات الدفاع الوطني Quwāt ad-Difāʿ al-Watanī) is a pro-Syrian government militia, that was formed on 1 November 2012[15] and organized by the Syrian government during the Syrian Civil War as a part-time volunteer reserve component of the Syrian Armed Forces.[16]
The NDF is made of units across various Syrian provinces, each of them consists of local volunteers willing to fight against rebels for various reasons.[5][17]
- ^ "The Shia crescendo". The Economist. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-10. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ a b Who are the pro-Assad militias in Syria? Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Middle East Eye, 25 September 2015
- ^ "Insight: Battered by war, Syrian army creates its own replacement". Reuters. 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ IISS, The Military Balance 2023 page 354
- ^ a b "Syria's Alawite Force Turned Tide for Assad". Wall Street Journal. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Al-Jabassini, Abdullah (2019). From Insurgents to Soldiers: The Fifth Assault Corps in Daraa, Southern Syria. Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria. European University Institute. ISBN 978-92-9084-767-0.
- ^ Szakola, Albin. "Pro-Assad militia says hit by Israel". Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
- ^ a b ""فوج الجولان" و"صقور القنيطرة" صراع خلفه "جمعية البستان"؟" ["The Golan Regiment" and "Hawks of Quneitra" conflict behind the "Bustan Society"]. Almodon. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ Leith Aboufadel (2 June 2018). "All pro-government militias to be discontinued after southern Syria offensive: source". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Syrian Army beats back jihadist forces in Golan Heights despite Israeli aggression". 25 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
- ^ "Islamic State retreats from Palmyra amid stunning Syrian Army offensive". 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ "How Iran is Building Its Syrian Hezbollah".
- ^ a b "Syrian government, Iraqi reinforcements reach southeast Damascus for upcoming offensive". Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
iranian-strategywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "SYRIA UPDATE: THE FALL OF AL-QUSAYR". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved Jun 7, 2013.
- ^ "Syria's civil war: The regime digs in". The Economist. 15 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-10-06.