Service with the Iranians vs. Service with the Syrian Army: Interview

I have previously noted that in the final years preceding the collapse of the Assad regime, large numbers of personnel who were working with the Iranians and Hezbollah in the Local Defence Forces and were wanted for military service were transferred to the regular Syrian army. However, many of those transferred personnel were hardly enthusiastic about serving in the army, and the clear deterioration in terms of service served as an incentive for desertion.

The following interview was conducted with an individual (Sunni) originally from Hasakah province but was living in the Syrian coastal region. He initially served under the Iranians before being transferred to the regular army and then deserting. The interview was conducted today and is slightly condensed and edited for clarity.

Q: First, when you were born? And how was life before the events? What did you think of President Bashar al-Assad?

A: I was born in 1998. Life was good. The last of your concerns was to study, that’s all. And everything was available. Bashar al-Assad was very much oppressive in Islamic terms: only his inner-circle benefited from him. As for us, we benefited from our work and lands. There was good within the country, but it went in vain.