The President of Syria is commander in chief of the Syrian armed forces, comprising some 420,000 troops upon mobilization. The military is a conscripted force; males serve in the military upon reaching the age of 18. The obligatory military service period is being decreased over time, in 2005 from two and a half years to two years, in 2008 to 21 months and in 2011 to year and a half. There is also a paramilitary forces with 8,000 personnel under the control of the Ministry of Interior.
The land forces of the Syrian army are around 300,000 soldiers (including about 150,000 conscripts), and a reserve force of 100,000 soldiers, with the structure:
- 6 armoured divisions (each with 3 armoured brigades, 1 mechanised infantry brigade, and 1 artillery regiment)
- 6 mechanised infantry divisions (each with 2 armoured brigades, 2 mechanised infantry brigades and 1 artillery regiment)
- 4 independent infantry brigades, 1 Special forces division, 2 independent artillery brigades, 3 independent rocket brigades, 2 independent AT brigades, 3 Sol-Sol missile SSM brigades (1 brigade FROG-7, 1 brigade SS-21, 1 brigade with Scud B/C), 1 coastal brigade with SS-C3 Stryx), 1 border guard brigade, 1 republican division ( with 1 mechanised brigade and 2 armoured brigades).