The Syrian Free Army, a group of Syrians who were trained and backed by the US in Syria, is seeking to find a role as the country undergoes rapid changes.
The SFA was based in Tanf, a small base near the Jordanian border in southern Syria. This base is also a US garrison, and the American troops have been training the Syrians.
The SFA said on January 2 that “Syrian Free Army soldiers bring food to children in Rukban, feeding not just their bodies but the spirit of Syria’s future. Hope is stronger than ever.”
Rukban is a large camp for displaced persons near Tanf. The Combined Special Ops Joint Task Force-Levant, which is the US-led coalition’s special operations group in the region, has been posting more about the SFA in recent weeks.The special operations group is part of the wider anti-ISIS coalition, and they are closely involved in work with groups that fight ISIS, including the SFA.
“We are proud to support our partners in the Syrian Free Army as they provide food to the children of Rukban. Our partners continuously strengthen hope to help build a brighter future for Syria,” the special operations force said in a post on social media.
The US’s role at Tanf is not the only mission it has in Syria in terms of support and training. The training and support program for the SFA is part of the much larger anti-ISIS mission. That mission backs the Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria.
Whereas the SFA is a relatively small force, the SDF has tens of thousands of soldiers under arms.
The SFA spent many years corralled near Tanf. The American garrison had a zone of influence around it where the US and the group it was training kept Syrian regime forces at a distance of some 55 km.
Over the years, Iranian-backed militias tried to attack Tanf sometimes. An Iraqi militia called Kataib Hezbollah also attacked a base in Jordan called Tower 22, killing three Americans in January 2024.
Therefore, the Tanf garrison and the SFA were sometimes under threat. However, this mission was largely under the radar over the years.
Who are the Syrian Free Army?
TTHE SFA is made up of Syrian rebels who opposed the Syrian regime. These are Arab opposition forces, and the men mostly come from the Homs province in Syria and other areas near Damascus and Palmyra.
When then-president Bashar al-Assad’s regime began to collapse, these forces took advantage of the vacuum in power and began to expand their area of operations beyond the 55 km. area. They moved out towards some key roads that were closer to Palmyra.
The forces are currently attempting to show they are relevant as things move quickly in Syria. On December 8, Assad’s regime collapsed.
The forces of Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham rolled south toward Damascus and took the city alongside former Syrian rebel groups from Dara’a in southern Syria. The new government of Syria has moved quickly to try to unify all the armed groups in its territory.
This means getting numerous rebel groups to agree to put down their arms and independence and become part of a new armed force. That is harder with some groups.
For example, Turkey backs some groups in northern Syria. The Southern Syria rebels also want their forces to receive positions in the new armed force. As for the Druze in Suwayda, they don’t want to lay down weapons until they feel secure.
There are complex questions ahead for the SFA, which is backed by the US and the SDF in eastern Syria.In a recent report on NPR, journalist Jane Arraf discussed the crossroads ahead for this unit.
“Syria’s US-trained opposition fighters wait to learn of their role in a new Syria,” Arraf said.
She told the story of Salim Turki al-Anteri, a colonel and commander in the SFA. He defected from the Syrian regime eight years ago, around 2016. This was when the US was beginning its role at Tanf.
According to NPR, “Anteri, who commands about 600 fighters, says he is waiting to see what role in the new security forces his group will be given by Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the coalition that drove Assad from power.”
The messaging from the Combined Special Ops Joint Task Force-Levant and the SFA is that both are now more active in trying to showcase the role of this unit in and around Tanf.
Their goal appears to be to show that this group is relevant to the future security of this part of Syria.
Tanf is an important part of Syria. Although it is a desert between populated areas such as Suwayda and the border crossing of Al Bukamal and Palmyra, this area contains ISIS threats, and it was previously a conduit for Iranian regime smuggling efforts.
Therefore, controlling the desert areas and key roads here is important for securing southern Syria. If the new government in Syria is flexible, it could partner with these forces. If it is not, then it is unclear what will come next at Tanf.