People's Army (Syria)

People's Army
الجيش الشعبي
Dates of operation1967–2024
IdeologyNeo-Ba'athism
Assadism (from 1971)
Political positionFar-left
Size250,000 (1971)
Allies Syrian Arab Armed Forces
National Defense Forces
Ba'ath Brigades
Iranian Revolutionary Guards
Hezbollah
Opponents Fighting Vanguard
Free Syrian Army
Islamic Front
Al-Nusra Front
Wars

The People's Army (also known as the al-Jaysh al-Sha'bi, Syrian People's Army or People's Militia) was a party-affiliated popular armed organization in Ba'athist Syria, formed in 1963. The People's Army specialized in guerrilla warfare and was intended to defend Syria in the event of a military invasion by another country. The Ministry of Defense also published a political and military journal with the same name (primarily known for its controversial article called "The Path to Creation of the New Arab Man").