In addition to Liwa al-Baqir, the ‘313 Force’ was one of the better known Iranian-backed formations in Syria. However, the group was disbanded some time before the Assad regime collapsed, and no reports have emerged about arrests targeting those who served in the group.
Below is an interview conducted with a person who is from the locality of al-Kafrin (Damascus countryside) and served in the 313 Force, discussing his experiences in the group and his outlook on the present situation. I have known him from the days he was in the 313 Force.
Q: At the beginning of the crisis what did you think of what was happening? Did you feel the demonstrations embodied legitimate grievances?
A: In the beginning of the crisis, I was young and I was like the rest of the Syrian people: we feared prison and informants. At the beginning of the revolution, nothing was clear, and while everything became apparent later on, but fear was still there and we would curse and denounce the state but the terror of prison did not leave us.
Q: How did you get to know of the 313 Force initially? And what were the conditions of service in it?
A: Their centre was near our village. No conditions: just that you had to be 18 years old.
Q: I mean for example the salary and days of work and days off?
A: For example in 2016 the salary was 40-60,000 Syrian pounds and the system was 10 days work and 10 days off, unlike the regular army where the highest salary was 10,000 or 17,000 Syrian pounds and the schedule for example was a month or two months work and eight days off.
Q: What was the role of the IRGC in supervising, training and financing?
A: I don’t know. We were only looking to have respite and we would not get involved in issues of training and financing.
Q: What was the nature of the relation between the 313 Force and the regular army?
A: We would offer support for the army’s fortified positions in the badiya and on the borders with Iraq.
Q: Didn’t you go to Lebanon once for training? In Hermel as I remember.
A: Simple light training: bearing weapons and rotations in guard duty.
Q: Were most of the 313 Force’s personnel Sunnis?
A: Yes, more than 70% were Sunnis. Sir, not everyone who served in the army or the friends [IRGC and Hezbollah-backed forces] was bad or a shabih. We were compelled either to hide in our homes with fear accompanying us, or we would sell everything we have to have stability, or we would serve in the army. Those who went to the friends went in order to flee from the low salary, long hours, humiliations and poor food and treatment [in the regular army]. By God, throughout the years of my service, I did not harm anyone nor did I steal, thanks be to God. I was only looking to have respite and remain safe and return to my home.
Q: And there wasn’t any sort of conversion to Shi‘ism for example?
A: Not at all. By God they never compelled anyone and they would not even ask anyone about his sect or religion, and God is witness to what I say.
Q: In what year was the 313 Force dissolved, and for what reasons?
A: In 2022, I transferred to the regular army. I would pay sums of money so I could stay at home. As far as I know, the 313 Force was dissolved in 2023 by order of the regular army.
Q: Did they tell you why you were being transferred to the regular army?
A: No, only that it was requested by the regular army.
Q: How was service in the army?
A: Very bad. For example when I first transferred to the regular army, I would serve at a checkpoint in the al-Kaswa area, but there was a quid pro quo whereby on every rotation you would give the officer a specific sum of money. When I asked the officer: from where will I get the money? He told me: ‘Why are the cars and people passing by the checkpoint? Take from them and gather the sum.’ I told him I cannot and will not have people complaining about me. He replied: ‘Pay from your pocket.’ I refused, and so he told me: ‘Pay me one million given that your salary is 500,000, and you can stay at home.’ The salary was recently 500,000 Syrian pounds and you had to comply with morning meetings, appointments for food and work hours, and you would be subject to degradation, curses and lack of food.
Q: After the fall of the regime how do you assess the situation in Syria? For example we have seen massacres on the coast and in al-Suwayda’. Do these events scare you?
A: Things are still staggering but the situation is very good in terms of treatment by the state and prices. All are afraid but those who bore arms on the coast are themselves the criminals and thieves from the days of the prior regime. As for in al-Suwada’, those people are seeking independence with Zionist support and they are traitors who must be held to account since they seek protection in the Zionists, or they should return to the state’s fold and comply with its system and respect its components.
Published originally on September 7, 2025.
