Syrian Army Appoints Turkish Citizen to Command 62nd Division

Damascus has installed a Turkish-born general as the new commander of the Syrian Army’s 62nd Division, signaling a decisive push to consolidate military loyalty.

Ömer Muhammed Çiftçi, a Turkish citizen who acquired Syrian nationality following the fall of the Assad regime, will replace Muhammad al-Jassem.

The ousted commander, widely known as Abu Amsha, previously led the Turkish-backed Sultan Suleiman Shah Division before its integration into the national armed forces.

Military authorities have reassigned Abu Amsha to the role of deputy commander within the Central Region Administrative Affairs Corps.

This leadership reshuffle comes amid heightened military alerts reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on August 4.

The transition reflects a broader institutional strategy by central command under Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Leadership in Damascus aims to curb autonomous power bases and integrate former rebel factions directly into the state security apparatus.

Addressing Past Controversies

The 62nd Division, which operates primarily in the Hama Governorate, has faced significant scrutiny.

Troops within the unit maintained deep personal loyalties to Abu Amsha, complicating central oversight.

Abu Amsha currently faces sanctions from the United States related to human rights abuses and forced displacement during his tenure in Afrin.

Reports suggest his removal from direct combat command is an effort to mitigate these liabilities and address persistent corruption allegations.

The 62nd Division has also been linked to sectarian violence in Latakia in 2025 and recent clashes involving Druze communities in southern Syria.

Rise of a Loyalist

Çiftçi, who operates under the aliases Muhtar Türki and Umar Mohammed Jaftashi, was born in Türkiye’s Osmaniye province in 1980.

His militant background dates back to operations in Afghanistan in 2004 before he entered the Syrian conflict in 2012.

As a long-standing confidant of al-Sharaa, Çiftçi previously served as a military emir in Aleppo and commanded the 70th Division near Damascus.

He played a critical role in planning the late-2024 military offensive that successfully captured the Syrian capital.

His rapid ascent within the new Syrian military establishment included a promotion to brigadier general in late 2024.

Geopolitical Implications

Çiftçi’s elevation highlights the complex integration of foreign fighters into the restructured Syrian military.

He was previously featured on the Turkish Interior Ministry’s most-wanted red list for alleged al-Qaeda affiliations.

Ankara abruptly removed his name from the terror list following his December 2024 promotion, prompting criticism from Turkish opposition figures regarding the absence of a judicial decision.

The appointment ultimately reinforces al-Sharaa’s methodology of placing trusted, legacy associates in critical enforcement roles while systematically dismantling the independent authority of former rebel commanders.