History
Background
The 76th Division was created in the aftermath of the Syrian civil war, as the transitional government sought to unify disparate armed factions under a centralized Ministry of Defense. It draws its personnel largely from Turkish-backed groups operating under the umbrella of the SNA, with the bulk of its commanders originating from these factions. [1]
The division's formation was announced in March 2025, shortly after creation of the 80th Division. [1] [4] By June 2025, the Syrian Army had begun integrating members from various factions, including the SNA. On 1 July 2025, the Aleppo Military Academy hosted a graduation ceremony for 3,000 new recruits for the 76th Division, which was attended by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. [5] [6] The event featured a military parade showcasing skills in infantry, armored, aerial combat, and airborne operations. [5] The division has been involved in security operations in the Aleppo region, though its nominal integration under the Ministry of Defense has been challenged by the independence of SNA factions due to financial constraints from international sanctions. [1]
On 6 October 2025, two members of the 76th Division opened fire on a young man in the Al-Ashrafiyah neighborhood of Afrin, wounding him; he died from his injuries on 9 October. [7]
Structure
The 76th Division is assigned to the Aleppo regional command and follows a structure similar to pre-2011 Syrian Army divisions, though specific details on brigades or subunits are not publicly detailed. [1] It operates alongside other Aleppo-based units, including the 72nd Division, 80th Division, and 60th Division.
The division's commander is Sayf Bulad, who is of Turkmen origin and previously commanded the Hamza Division. [3] [8] He is considered a close associate of Muhammad al-Jassem, commander of the 62nd Division, and like him is under U.S. sanctions for crimes against humanity, including kidnapping, torture, sexual abuse and extortion. [3] [9] Other high-ranking members include: Chief of Staff, Muhammad Ahmad al-Muhammad, who apparently was imprisoned in Sednaya Prison for a certain period. [3]
The division controls at least six subordinate brigades: [3]
- 1st Brigade (led by Farhan al-Younes, a prominent commander of the Hamza Division in the Afrin area)
- 2nd Brigade (led by Shadi al-Nasser (Abu Yazan), who previously served as an officer in the Hamza Division)
- 3rd Brigade (led by Muhammad Noura (Abu Jaafar))
- 4th Brigade (led by Ahmad Barir)
- 5th Brigade (led by Manaf al-Dhaher, who previously served as an officer in the special forces of the Hamza Division)
- Special Forces Brigade (led by Jamal al-Khalaf)
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Syrian Army