U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army joins transitional government’s Interior Ministry
Palmyra, Syria (North Press) – The U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army (SFA) officially joined the Ministry of Interior of the Syrian transitional government and will work to maintain security across the Syrian desert, a military source told North Press on Wednesday.
The source explained that the faction will operate under the al-Tanf Directorate, having previously been affiliated with Division 70 under the Ministry of Defense.
Coordination with the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS remains ongoing, the source added, emphasizing that the transfer to the Interior Ministry “does not affect cooperation or the operational framework with Coalition forces.”
He declined to comment on the reasons behind the faction’s shift from the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Interior.
The SFA maintains a presence at the al-Tanf military base, near the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border triangle, which serves as its main command center and also hosts troops from the Global Coalition.
The faction is currently led by Major Ahmad Abdel Karim al-Tamer, who succeeded Salem al-Antari.