عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Maher Al-Assad Named Commander of the Syrian Army’s elite 4th Mechanized Division

Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) are seen at their father Hafez al-Assad's funeral on June 13, 2000. REUTERS/Stringer
Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) are seen at their father Hafez al-Assad's funeral on June 13, 2000. REUTERS/Stringer
TT
20
TT

Maher Al-Assad Named Commander of the Syrian Army’s elite 4th Mechanized Division

Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) are seen at their father Hafez al-Assad's funeral on June 13, 2000. REUTERS/Stringer
Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) are seen at their father Hafez al-Assad's funeral on June 13, 2000. REUTERS/Stringer

Syrians were shocked with the news of appointing Maher Al-Assad, brother of Bashar Al-Assad, commander of the Syrian Army’s elite 4th Mechanized Division, as revealed by Russia Today Website and other pro-regime sites.

What caused the shock is that the name of Maher Al-Assad has been associated with the 4th Mechanized Division as the commander but it turned out that he was the commander of battalion 42 in the 4th Mechanized Division.

This coincided with news that the Tiger Forces, led by Colonel Suheil al-Hassan, moved from Russia towards the south of Damascus to lead military operations launched by the regime forces there. These operations actually failed after one week of bombarding towns in the south of the capital.

Maher Al-Assad, born in 1967, studied mechanical engineering at Damascus University before he enrolled in the military academy then started serving at the 4th division. He was promoted in the summer of the past year.

The 4th Mechanized Division was formed in 1984 from the Defense Companies, established by Rifaat al-Assad, brother of deceased former president Hafez Al-Assad, in 1982. Defense Companies had a key role in Hama incidents, back then.

After the failure of Rifaat al-Assad coup over his brother, the Defense Companies were merged with the regime army and together were called the 4th Mechanized Division. It has now become one of the major divisions with around 15,000 members.

Opposing parties attribute the most bloody raids in Damascus countryside and Daraa in the beguiling of the revolution to the 4th Mechanized Division.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Netanyahu’s Admission of Arming Gaza Militias Sparks Political Uproar in Israel

Displaced Palestinians receive aid from the US-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” in Rafah, on Thursday (AFP)
Displaced Palestinians receive aid from the US-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” in Rafah, on Thursday (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Netanyahu’s Admission of Arming Gaza Militias Sparks Political Uproar in Israel

Displaced Palestinians receive aid from the US-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” in Rafah, on Thursday (AFP)
Displaced Palestinians receive aid from the US-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” in Rafah, on Thursday (AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that his government has supplied weapons to armed groups in Gaza opposed to Hamas, a revelation that has ignited fierce backlash across the Israeli political spectrum.

In a video posted Thursday on his official X account, Netanyahu said the decision was made on the advice of senior security officials, with the goal of protecting Israeli soldiers amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has stretched on for over 18 months.

The admission came after former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly accused the government of covertly arming what he described as “criminal groups affiliated with ISIS.”

Speaking on Israeli public radio, Lieberman said the move was carried out under Netanyahu’s orders and without cabinet approval. He added that while the head of the Shin Bet was informed, he was unsure if the military chief of staff had been aware.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that the groups in question were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and were operating without the knowledge of other ministers.

The report noted that the issue was discussed in a closed session of a Knesset committee, where members of the security and intelligence community were summoned to explain the policy.

While Netanyahu did not deny the allegations, his office issued a statement defending the strategy, saying Israel was “working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on recommendations from all security agency heads.” The Shin Bet declined to comment.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the move, accusing Netanyahu of reckless policymaking.

“After handing millions to Hamas, Netanyahu is now arming factions close to ISIS, without strategy or oversight. These weapons will end up aimed at Israeli soldiers and civilians,” Lapid warned.

Left-wing lawmaker Merav Michaeli echoed the outrage, saying: “They accused Rabin of arming Arabs - now Netanyahu’s government is equipping ISIS-style militias. This is a path to endless war.”

Even members of Netanyahu’s own Likud party expressed alarm. Knesset Member Tally Gottlieb called the move “unbelievable nonsense”
“Are we seriously arming ISIS and al-Qaeda now? This is madness.”

Reports indicate one such group may be led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a Gazan reportedly linked to ISIS. A recent video released by Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, showed their fighters attacking Abu Shabab’s group in Rafah, resulting in multiple casualties.