Defense Companies

The Defense Companies (; Saraya ad-Difa) were a paramilitary force in Syria that were commanded by Rifaat al-Assad. Their task was to defend the Assad government, and Damascus, from internal and external attack. In 1984 the 55,000 strong Defense Companies was broken up and merged into the Syrian Arab Army as the 4th Armoured division, the Republican Guard, and the 14th Airborne Division comprising 5 Special Forces regiments.