Bashar al-Assad has appointed Major General Akram Ahmed Hwaijeh as the new commander of the 7th Mechanical Division, succeeding Major General Hikmat Suleiman who has retired.
Hwaijeh, originally from Kirdaha, Assad’s hometown, was the head of the security committee in the Albukamal border region, and a deputy commander of the 11th Tank Division in Homs province.
Assad has also appointed Brigadier General Haitham Suleiman Barakat as the commander of 123rd Infantry Regiment in the 17th Division in Hassakeh province.
Most of the promoted generals come from Bashar al-Assad’s hometown in coastal region and belong to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
Assad, who believes that war is over along with his key allies Russia and Iran, has managed to survive with a powerless army by depending on local militias and Iran-backed-and-funded foreign militants.
Syrian activists said all active officers in the regime army have been involved in war crimes against the Syrian people.
More than 200,000 pro-regime forces have been killed in nine years, according to local monitoring groups.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
