A national army was formed in August 1945 from remnants of French Troupes Speciales. In December 2024, the army fell apart amid a lightning HTS-led offensive that toppled the regime.

One of his most pressing priorities as Syria's interim president will be to integrate its myriad armed military factions into a unified army

Some are happy to do so, some may need coaxing, and others have completely ruled it out. Al Majalla gives an overview of the different armed factions and what they want.

HTS's recent overthrow of the Assad regime recalls the key role militias played throughout history—from Sudan's recent civil war all the way back to the American Revolution. Al Majalla explains.

While Trump's rhetoric doesn't always match his actions, there are more signs than not that the US will draw down its forces in the region, leaving room for other actors to step in

The Assad family's 54-year rule over Syria has collapsed, as has the Iranian axis. In control of Damascus, HTS and its allied factions can write a new chapter in Syrian history.

The Assad family's 54-year rule over Syria has collapsed, as has the Iranian axis. In control of Damascus, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied factions can write a new chapter in Syrian history

Destroying most of Syria's defence assets, Tel Aviv has left its northern neighbour vulnerable to the same instability that followed the dissolution of the Iraqi army. That suits Netanyahu nicely

If it's not careful, Tehran could soon experience what their Syrian client just did: the sudden implosion of a rotten regime 

With both internal and external security threats, plus a ceasefire agreement that leaves more questions than answers, the Lebanese Armed Forces seems trapped between a rock and a hard place