A Syrian Shi'i Perspective on Events in Syria

Twelver Shi‘a, whether native Syrian or of foreign origin, constitute only a small minority of the Syrian population. Since the fall of the Assad regime, some of them have left for exile in Lebanon and elsewhere, but others have stayed. Today’s interviewee is a friend I have known for around nine years. A native Syrian Shi‘i of the Damascus area and a hairdresser by profession, he initially served in the Iranian-backed formation al-Ghalibun before moving to Lebanon for work. He then returned to Syria and enlisted in the regular army, where he officially remained in reserve service until the fall of the regime. He remains in Syria today.

Old photo of members of al-Ghalibun


Q: When did you first bear arms and with which formation did you work and for what arms?