Maj Gen Ali Nour al-Din al-Naasan was appointed as Syria’s new army chief [Twitter]
General Ali Nour al-Din al-Naasan has been appointed as the new chief of staff of the Syrian army, following the recent cabinet reshuffle of Ahmed Al-Sharaa‘s interim government.
The appointment comes as part of a broader effort by Syria’s newly established government to rebuild the country’s armed forces after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the prominent military figure, who has led several key battles against the regime in northern Syria, will be at the forefront of the country’s army.Â
Al-Naasan was a member of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and previously rose through its ranks, attaining the rank of Major General in December 2024, following a series of military reforms introduced by the interim government.
Born in the town of Taybat al-Imam in the Hama Governorate of central Syria, Al-Nasaan – who is also known as Abu Hamza – grew up in the region before continuing his education at Syrian military academies.
Al-Nasaan’s military journey began in the Syrian army, where he quickly distinguished himself as an officer in infantry and armoured units.
After defecting to the opposition, he gained significant field experience, participating in a wide range of operations against Assad’s forces in northern Syria.
As one of the most prominent figures in the opposition’s military leadership, Al-Nasaan was known for his strategic acumen and his ability to lead troops in both conventional and irregular warfare scenarios.
In the wake of the Assad regime’s downfall, Al-Naasan played a critical role in rebuilding Syria’s fractured military apparatus.
He is now leading efforts to reconstitute the Syrian army and began developing a comprehensive strategy to unify the disparate opposition factions under a single national framework.
This initiative included reordering the military’s priorities to better align with both local realities and regional geopolitical dynamics.
During his military career, Al-Nasaan oversaw the integration of new weaponry and advanced technologies in training and operational procedures.
He also implemented advanced training programmes designed to better prepare both officers and enlisted personnel for modern warfare and crisis management.
Al-Nasaan’s efforts focused heavily on leadership development, ensuring that the army’s officers and soldiers were well-versed in the complex challenges of modern conflict, with a particular emphasis on strategic decision-making and crisis response.
The appointment of Al-Nasaan comes a few weeks after the naming of Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra as Minister of Defence.
