Defense Companies (Syria)
| Companies for the Defense of the Revolution سرايا الدفاع عن الثورة | |
|---|---|
Defense Companies shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 1971–1984 |
| Country | Ba'athist Syria |
| Allegiance | Syrian Arab Armed Forces |
| Branch | Airborne forces Armoured Corps |
| Type | Praetorian Guard Shock troops Special operations force |
| Role | Airborne forces Armoured warfare Counter-insurgency Direct action Raiding Special operations Urban warfare |
| Size | 55,000 (peak in 1982) |
| Part of | Division Command HQ 5 Brigades 26 Battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | Mezzeh Air Base, Damascus |
| Equipment | T-72 tanks BM-21 Grad Mil Mi-24D Attack helicopters 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars Ilyushin Il-76 Transport aircraft |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief | Maj. Gen. Rifaat al-Assad |
| Notable commanders |
|
The Companies for the Defense of the Revolution (Arabic: سرايا الدفاع عن الثورة; Sarāyā ad-Difāʿʿan al-thawra), commonly referred to as Defense Companies, Defense Corps or Defense Brigades (Arabic: سرايا الدفاع; Sarāyā ad-Difāʿ), were a Syrian all-Alawite paramilitary force commanded by Rifaat al-Assad. Their task was to safeguard and defend the government of Hafez al-Assad, and the capital Damascus, from internal and external attack.
In 1984, the 55,000 strong Defense Companies was dismantled and merged into the Syrian Arab Armed Forces expanding the Republican Guard, and the 14th Special Forces Division comprising 5 Special Forces regiments. The rump force then became the 569th Armored Division which later became the 4th Armoured Division.