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Ghiath Dalla

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Ghiath Dalla
Native name
غياث دلا
Nickname(s)أسد الغوطتين (Lion of the Ghoutas)
Born (1971-07-31) 31 July 1971 (age 53)[1]
Beit Yashout, Jableh, Syria[1]
Allegiance Ba'athist Syria
Service / branch Syrian Arab Armed Forces
Rank Brigadier General
Commands42nd Armored Brigade
Battles / wars

Ghiath Suleiman Dalla (Arabic: غياث سليمان دلا) is a Syrian former military officer who served as chief of staff in the 4th Armoured Division of the Syrian Arab Army and is the head of the Military Council for the Liberation of Syria, an organization formed in March 2025 to combat the post-Assad government.

Military service

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He first served as an officer in the 4th Armoured Division.[8]

On 2 January 2020, Dalla was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General.[9]

In April 2020, Dalla was promoted to commander of the 42nd Brigade of the 4th Division.[10]

On 29 June 2024, Dalla was promoted to Chief of Staff of the 4th Division.[11]

During the Syrian civil war

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Rif Dimashq campaign (2011-2018)

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Ghiath Dalla participated in multiple campaigns across the western and eastern Ghouta regions in Rif Dimashq, which earned him the nickname "Lion of the Ghoutas" in pro-government media.[4][12]

Dalla commanded the Ghaith Forces against rebel positions in Damascus's Qaboun, Barzeh, and Tishrin neighborhoods on 18 February 2017.[4][13]

On 17 July 2017, Dalla was assigned to arrive at Jobar and Ein Tarma to assist the Republican Guard and other units in capturing opposition-held Jobar. He was supposed to have been present at the start of the Jobar offensive, but was postponed due to an increase in fighting in Daraa Governorate.[14]

On 22 October 2017, Dalla and the Ghaith Forces arrived on the outskirts of Mount Hermon to prepare for an attack on opposition-held Beit Jinn, having been transferred there due to unsuccessful regime progress in the village and Maghar al-Mir.[15] Additionally, unconfirmed reports claimed that Dalla was injured during clashes at the Tal Bardiyah mountain range four days later.[15] After four months of fighting, rebels in Beit Jinn surrendered and were deported to other opposition-held regions in the ensuing settlement agreements.[16]

Following the Beit Jinn offensive, Dalla and the Ghaith Forces were deployed to fight opposition fighters at Harasta alongside other pro-government units like the Republican Guard.[17][18]

Southern Syrian campaign (2017–2018)

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On 4 June 2017, following a rebel offensive against government positions in Daraa's Manshiyah district, Dalla arrived at Daraa Governorate from Rif Dimashq, accompanied by convoys of the Ghaith Forces, amidst regime reinforcements.[19][20]

On 30 May 2018, Dalla and military reinforcements from the Republican Guard and 42nd Brigade were deployed to Quneitra Governorate after Iranian military personnel and Hezbollah fighters withdrew in accordance to an agreement between Russia and Israel.[21][22]

Northwestern Syria offensive (2019)

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During the Dawn of Idlib offensive, Dalla commanded the 42nd Brigade in the Assad regime's 8-month-long assault on Kabani in northeastern Latakia, held by rebel factions including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), and the National Front for Liberation (NLF).[23][24]

On 5 May 2019, Dalla, major general Ali Mahmoud, and units from the Arab Nationalist Guard arrived at the Latakia Mountains in preparation for the campaign. Air Force Intelligence Directorate deputy commander Ghassan Ismail, who arrived at Salma on 15 May, aimed for the operation to include many pro-government units (such as the 25th Special Mission Forces Division), but Dalla refused assistance from forces who didn't share Iranian backing.[23] The first unsuccessful assault on Kabani took place a day later, and Dalla arrived two days later with reinforcements from the 40th and 42nd brigades. The 4th Division would continue launching assaults on the village until 29 December, after which it withdrew its units to Aleppo for "new victories" after achieving "the desired goals in Latakia".[23]

Daraa governorate (2020–2023)

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Dalla was sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for "leading Syrian military forces during indiscriminate attacks on civilians including chemical attacks".[25]

On 28 May 2020, Dalla participated in a meeting with the Central Committees in Daraa alongside other military figures such as Hossam Louka and Louay al-Ali, agreeing to increase the 4th Division's military checkpoints.[26] Three days later, Dalla and other 4th Division officers oversaw the deployment of Ghiath Forces soldiers in western Daraa countryside.[27]

Northwestern Syria offensive (2024)

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On 30 November 2024, three days after the start of the HTS-led Deterrence of Aggression offensive, Dalla was reported by pro-government sources to have arrived at Aleppo.[28]

On 1 December, after the fall of Aleppo, Dalla and the 42nd Brigade's infantry and Golan rocket launchers were deployed to Hama and Jabal Zayn al-Abidin during the Hama offensive.[29] A few days later, the Military Operations Command announced via social media that they had attacked a meeting between security and military officials, including Dalla and Suhayl al-Hasan, using drone strikes.[30]

Post-Assad

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He declared the formation of the Military Council for the Liberation of Syria[31] in March 2025.[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Syria Designations; Syria-related Designations". Office of Foreign Assets Control. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Ghiath Dalla; A Syrian Brigadier General Backed by Iran, Leads the Violent Campaign Against Daraa". Alestiklal. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. ^ "غياث سليمان دلا" [Ghiath Suleiman Dalla]. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c ""أسد الغوطتين".. غياث دلة من وادي بردى إلى القابون". Enab Baladi (in Arabic). 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  5. ^ Fadel, Ahed (26 April 2018). "بشار الأسد يقرّر تعيين شقيقه ماهر بمنصب عسكري كبير". Al Arabiya (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  6. ^ "النظام يدفع بقوات الغيث التابعة للفرقة الرابعة إلى بادية السويداء". Aleppo Today (in Arabic). 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  7. ^ "جرحى مدنيون بقصف جديد للنظام على أحياء درعا البلد". Syria TV (in Arabic). 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  8. ^ Daban Mohammed (7 March 2025). "Who is Ghiath Dalla, the Former Regime Commander Accused of Inciting Unrest in Syria?". Channel 8. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  9. ^ "بالصور: أبرز ضباط الأسد الذين تم ترفيعهم مع نهاية ٢٠١٩". Jesr Press (in Arabic). 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  10. ^ "وجه اقتصادي جديد وجنرالات حرب.. تفاصيل عن المدرجين الجدد على قائمة العقوبات الأمريكية". Enab Baladi (in Arabic). 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  11. ^ Waters, Gregory (10 July 2024). "ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in June 2024". Counter Extremism Project. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  12. ^ "ثلاثة ضباط يروج لهم في بداية كل معركة للأسد في سوريا". Enab Baladi (in Arabic). 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  13. ^ Ali, Adnan (27 February 2017). "النظام السوري يصعّد عسكرياً لإفشال جنيف". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  14. ^ "تعزيزات"الفرقة الرابعة"و"أبو الفضل العباس"وصلت الى جوبر". Al Modon (in Arabic). 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b "النظام يستعين بغياث دلة لاقتحام بيت جن". Al Modon (in Arabic). 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Beit Jinn Settlement and Unknown Fate Awaits Civilians in Western Ghouta". Syrians for Truth and Justice. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  17. ^ "بعد جمود.. المعارضة المسلحة تتقدم بغوطة دمشق". Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  18. ^ "مليشيات النظام إلى حرستا: الخلاف على زعامة "المحشر"". Sawt al-Asima (in Arabic). 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  19. ^ "حشود للأسد على أبواب درعا.. والهدف: حصارٌ واقتحام". Enab Baladi (in Arabic). 4 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  20. ^ Ali, Adnan (5 June 2017). "معارك الحسم في سورية: بدء معركة الرقة ومواجهات في درعا". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  21. ^ "As Dala Arrives.. Iranian Forces Withdraw From Southern Syria". Enab Baladi. 2 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  22. ^ "معركة الجنوب قد تبدأ من القنيطرة". Al Modon (in Arabic). 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  23. ^ a b c Waters, Gregory (6 January 2020). "Battle for Kabani: A Rare Defeat for the Syrian Army in 2019". International Review. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  24. ^ "اللاذقية الشمالي: 10 مروحيات لقصف كبانة.. يومياً". Al Modon (in Arabic). 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  25. ^ Jared Malsin; Saleh al-Batati (7 March 2025). "Syrian Forces Battle Insurgents in Serious Test for New Government". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Meeting results in expansion of Syrian regime control over rural Daraa". Enab Baladi. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "بالصور.. غياث دلة وضباط الفرقة الرابعة يشرفون على انتشار قواتهم غرب درعا". Nabaa Media Foundation (in Arabic). 31 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  28. ^ "على حساب النظام السوري وإيران … روسيا تُقسم كعكة حلب". Al-Quds Al-Arabi (in Arabic). 30 November 2024. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  29. ^ Waters, Gregory (7 December 2024). "Those Who Fought and Those Who Fled". Syria Revisited. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  30. ^ al-Mousa, Abdullah (7 February 2025). "قصة المعركة التي أسقطت الأسد في اثني عشر يوماً". Alpheratz Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Turmoil in Syria's Coastal Region: Clashes Erupt Amid Power Struggles". Watan. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  32. ^ "Iran Update, March 6, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
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