Syrian Navy

Not to be confused with Syrian Arab Navy (Ba'athist Syria).

The Syrian Navy (Arabic: الْبَحْرِيَّةُ السُّورِيَّةُ, romanized: al-Baḥrīyah as-Sūrīyah) is the naval branch of the Syrian Armed Forces, responsible for defending the country's coastline and ensure the security of the territorial waters of Syria.

Syrian Navy
البحرية السورية‎
Emblem of the Syrian Navy
Founded	August 29, 1950 May 9, 2025(current form)
Country	Syria
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Part of	Syrian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Damascus, Syria
Engagements	Yom Kippur War First Battle of Latakia Second Battle of Latakia Syrian Civil War Siege of Latakia Syrian Conflict
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Ahmed al-Sharaa
Minister of Defense	Murhaf Abu Qasra
Commander of the Naval Forces	Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Saud
Notable commanders	Admiral Fadal Hussein Vice Admiral Yasser al-Haffi
Insignia
Ensign

After the fall of the Ba'athist-led regime in 2024, its military assets were taken over by the Syrian caretaker government, and later on, Syrian transitional government.

History

Shortly after the collapse of the Ba'athist regime, on December 9, 2024 the Israeli Air Force launched an attack on various assets of the Syrian Fleet. Israel sought to destroy important naval assets to prevent their use by the incoming Syrian Government in the context of the 2024 Israeli invasion of Syria. Among other damage, at least 6 Osa-class missile boats were destroyed in Latakia.

The Syrian Navy, under the newly formed provisional government, first conducted routine patrols on April 25, 2025. The Navy's first large-scale operation was May 9, 2025, in order to combat weapons smuggling and human trafficking. In July 2025, cooperation was reported between the Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs and the Syrian Maritime Navigation Authority (Arabic: هيئة الملاحة البحرية السورية) aimed at rebuilding and operating Syrian ports and developing roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) maritime transport services between Turkey and Syria. Various naval tests were conducted off the coast of Syria during August and September.

Structure

The Syrian Arab Navy consisted of the navy, coastal defense and naval aviation forces.

Syrian Marines

Main article: Syrian Marines

The Syrian Marines followed the forces of naval infantry, consisting of about 1,500 conscripts, whose primary role was to protect the three military naval bases in the country, which are divided into three units, each of which was to protect one of the bases. These Marines had three amphibious assault ships, each of which can carry 100 soldiers and five tanks.

In general, the Syrian Marine Corps did not receive any special or advanced armament and very little training in the use of amphibious ships, and in general its recruits are only ordinary soldiers and do not have any experience in the ways of fighting as Marines. Although the Soviet Union set up part of Exercise Zapad-81 (the largest military training exercise ever in the entire history of the Soviet Union, and included the largest amphibious landing operation in its history as well), the Syrian soldiers did not participate.

The marines did not participate in any real amphibious naval landing during any of the wars Syria was involved in. Instead, they were used as infantry with a direct ground clash in the Yom Kippur War and in the Lebanon Civil War. During the first Gulf War, as part of the Coalition of the Gulf War, Syria sent marines as a component of its 17,000 soldier contribution, which may mean that it considers them highly experienced soldiers.

After the fall of the Ba'athist-led regime, the status of the Syrian Marines are currently unknown.

Syrian Coastal Defense Forces

The Syrian Coastal Defense Forces were placed under the command of the Syrian Arab Navy since 1984. The coastal defense consists of brigade infantry, each of which was responsible for monitoring a specific coastal sector, and in addition to them, there was a battalion that monitors. In addition to these forces, there are two artillery battalions armed with 18 artillery pieces, 130 mm caliber M-46. The Syrian coastal defense were also armed with Styx, Sepal, YJ-83 and P-800 Oniks missiles, as well as the K-300P Bastion-P coastal defense missile system.

After the fall of the Ba'athist-led regime, the status of the Syrian Marines are currently unknown.

Bases

Damascus (HQ)

Latakia

Minet el-Beida

Tartus

Baniyas

Syrian Arab Navy bases

The Syrian Navy is headquartered in Damascus, with its main base being the Port of Latakia located on the Mediterranean Sea. Alongside this, the Syrian Navy also controls several other bases in Baniyas, Tartus and Minet el-Beida.

Latakia is Syria's largest and most active port, consisting of 23 berths and a section for the repair of military ships within its sectors. Alongside this, it also served as a dock for the Syrian Navy's missile boats.

Al-Bayda Port, located in Baniyas, hosted several training centers for naval officers and special forces, alongside also serving as a dock for transport ships.

Prior, Tartus Port served as the main base of the Syrian Navy, where its two navy frigates, its three amphibious ships and all its minesweepers dock, as well as some missile boats and navy transport ships. With the arrival of the Russian Air Force at Latakia International Airport in 2015, the Syrian Naval Aviation helicopters moved a few miles north to Istamo after a new helicopter base was established at the arms depot. A majority of these assets were destroyed in the Israeli invasion of Syria.

Equipment

After the fall of the Ba'athist-led regime and subsequent Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, resulting in the destruction of the its naval assets, the Syrian Navy currently operates a limited number of patrol vessels, alongside other vessels.

Vessels

Type	Number of ships	Notes
Offshore patrol vessel	At least 6
Fast attack crafts	N/A
Modified civilian vessels	N/A	Includes jet skis
Rescue lifeboats	N/A

Small arms

Name	Photo	Origin	Cartridge	Type	Notes
AK-47		Soviet Union	7.62×39mm M43/M67	Assault rifle	Standard issue.
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	10mm Auto	Submachine gun

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Syria

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Syrian Navy
	فريق Fariq		عماد أول‎‎ Eimad 'awal		عماد Eimad		لواء Alliwa'		عميد Amid		عقيد Aqid		مقدم Muqaddam		رائد Ra'id		نقيب Naqib		ملازم أول Mulazim awwal			ملازم Mulazim

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Syrian Navy																																			No insignia
	مساعد أول Musaeid 'awal			مساعد ثاني Musaeid thani			مساعد Musaeid		رقيب أول Raqib 'awal		رقيب ثاني Raqib thani						رقيب Raqīb						عريف Earif						جندي أول Jundiun‎‎ 'awal						جندي Jundiun‎‎