Syrian Defense: 3,000 defected officers return or seek reinstatement
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that more than 3,000 defected officers have either returned to service or submitted requests to rejoin the military, marking a significant step in Damascus’s efforts to rebuild its armed forces.
Colonel Mohamed Mansour, head of the Ministry’s Officer Affairs Department, provided these figures during an interview with the Syrian news outlet Al-Ikhbariya. Mansour detailed the ongoing process to reintegrate former officers as part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the army’s capabilities amid the evolving security environment.
According to Mansour, specialized committees have been established to process applications from defected officers, systematically organizing their records based on rank, specialization, and other criteria. The Ministry is also actively reaching out to officers previously dismissed due to security or political reasons to facilitate their possible return.
Mansour emphasized that the current phase of military rebuilding places no restrictions or special conditions on the return of officers. Instead, there is a strong emphasis on the need for all national military personnel, regardless of their academic or professional background, to contribute to the armed forces’ restoration.
He further explained that the Ministry remains flexible in managing the return process, particularly as many officers reside abroad in refugee-hosting countries. Considerations include their travel circumstances and logistical challenges, with the goal of ensuring they can complete necessary procedures with ease.
In an effort to support returning officers, the Ministry of Defense has also announced that all registered officers will receive monthly salaries, even if they have not yet been assigned to specific military units.