Desert Security Forces (Syria)
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| Desert Security Forces | |
|---|---|
| قوات الأمن البادية | |
.svg) | |
| Active | 2024–present |
| Country |  Syria |
| Branch | Ministry of Interior |
| Type | Security force |
| Role | Counter-terrorism Border security Patrols in desert regions |
| Garrison/HQ | Al-Tanf, Palmyra |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major Ahmad al-Tamer |
The Desert Security Forces (Arabic: قوات الأمن البادية, romanized: qūwāt al-amn al-bādiyah) are a security force under the Syrian Ministry of Interior operating in the central desert region known as the Badiya. Formed in late 2024 following the fall of the Assad regime, the forces are tasked with countering remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS) and securing vast arid areas prone to insurgent activity.[1] They coordinate with international partners, including the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.
The Desert Security Forces were established by integrating remnants of the Syrian Free Army (SFA), a U.S.-trained rebel group that had previously fought ISIS in the Syrian desert between 2016 and 2017. Following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the SFA units were restructured and absorbed into the transitional government's security apparatus, renaming them the Desert Security Forces.[2] This integration aimed to consolidate rebel factions under a unified national structure amid the fragile political transition.
In October 2025, Interior Minister Anas Khattab visited Palmyra to meet with the leadership of the Badiya Internal Security Directorate, underscoring the forces' role in stabilizing the desert.[3]