Defense Companies (Syria)
| Companies for the Defense of the Revolution | |
|---|---|
| سرايا الدفاع عن الثورة | |
Defense Companies shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 1971–1984 |
| Country | Ba'athist Syria |
| Allegiance | Syrian Arab Armed Forces (Ba'athist Syria) |
| Branch | Airborne forces Armoured Corps |
| Type | Praetorian Guard Shock troops Special operations force |
| Role | Airborne forces Armoured warfare Counter-insurgency Direct action Raiding Special operations Urban warfare |
| Size | 55,000 (peak in 1982) |
| Part of | Division Command HQ 5 Brigades 26 Battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | Mezzeh Air Base, Damascus |
| Equipment | T-72 tanks BM-21 Grad Mil Mi-24D Attack helicopters 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars Ilyushin Il-76 Transport aircraft |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief | Maj. Gen. Rifaat al-Assad |
| Notable commanders |
|
The Companies for the Defense of the Revolution (Arabic: سرايا الدفاع عن الثورة; Sarāyā ad-Difāʿʿan al-thawra), commonly referred to as Defense Companies, Defense Corps or Defense Brigades (Arabic: سرايا الدفاع; Sarāyā ad-Difāʿ) and informally called "Rifaat's boys", were a Syrian all-Alawite paramilitary force commanded by Rifaat al-Assad. Their task was to safeguard and defend the government of Hafez al-Assad, and the capital Damascus, from internal and external attack.
In 1984, the 55,000 strong (according to other sources, 60,000-70,000 strong) Defense Companies was dismantled and merged into the Syrian Arab Armed Forces expanding the Republican Guard, and the 14th Special Forces Division comprising 5 Special Forces regiments. The rump force then became the 569th Armored Division which later became the 4th Armoured Division.