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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
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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.

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Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
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Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun acknowledged on Friday that negotiations with Hezbollah over its weapons are ongoing, though progressing slowly.

Speaking amid heightened tensions along the southern border with Israel, Aoun emphasized that dialogue is being conducted directly with Hezbollah, not through a formal security committee, and expressed cautious optimism over a gradual breakthrough.

“There is some responsiveness to the ideas we’re discussing, even if things are moving at a slow pace,” said Aoun, stressing that neither party desires war, which would carry severe consequences for all sides.

His remarks come as Hezbollah issued its first public response to the recent visit by US envoy Tom Barrack, rejecting the American proposal focused on centralizing arms under the Lebanese state.

Hezbollah insisted it is only concerned with implementing UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a cessation of hostilities.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s demand for Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and withdraw from the remaining five occupied hills in the south, noting that full army deployment remains hindered in areas still under Israeli control.

During his visit to Beirut this week, Barrack pushed for a “monopoly of arms” by the Lebanese state, declaring that the US will only support Lebanon if its government commits to ensuring that only official forces carry weapons.

In a statement, he reinforced that Hezbollah, in its entirety, is viewed by Washington as a foreign terrorist organization, with no distinction between its political and military wings.

He added that the responsibility now lies with Lebanon’s political leadership and army to seize this opportunity and build a future free of Hezbollah’s grip.

Hezbollah MP Ihab Hamadeh dismissed the American initiative, affirming that the group is aligned with the stance of parliament and ally Speaker Nabih Berri and will only engage within the framework of Resolution 1701.

He acknowledged a general agreement on the principle of state monopoly over arms, but argued that this must be accompanied by a comprehensive national defense strategy, especially in light of ongoing Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified, targeting South Lebanon throughout the week. On Friday, an Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah member in Bint Jbeil, while other raids reportedly hit weapons depots and rocket launch sites. Tensions escalated further when an Israeli soldier shot a Lebanese civilian near the border.

In response to repeated attacks, residents of the border town Aita al-Shaab issued a strongly worded statement condemning the government’s inaction and warning that they may resort to self-defense.

“Security is not a luxury; it is our right,” the statement read.