Ahmad al-Tamer
Ahmad al-Tamer | |
|---|---|
| Native name | أحمد التمر |
| Born | |
| Allegiance | .svg.png){kind=small} Syrian opposition (until 2024) Syrian transitional government (2025–present) |
| Branch | Syrian Ministry of Interior |
| Service years | 2010s–present |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |  Free Syrian Army (formerly)
|
| Commands | .svg.png){kind=small} Desert Security Forces |
| Conflicts | |
Ahmad Al Tammer[1] (Arabic: أحمد التمر, also rendered as Ahmed al-Tamer[2]) is a Syrian official serving as the commander of the Desert Security Forces since September 2025. Previously a captain in the Free Syrian Army-affiliated Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo, al-Tamer has played a key role in anti-ISIS operations in the Syrian desert. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, he was integrated into the new Syrian government's security apparatus under the Ministry of Interior.
Early life
Al-Tamer hails from Morek in the Hama Governorate.[1]
Military career
Rebel period
During the Syrian civil war, al-Tamer joined the rebel forces and rose to the rank of captain in the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo (FMAA), a group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army's Southern Front. In 2016, he led troops in operations against ISIS in the mountains of Syria.[3] By 2017, he was appointed Commander in Chief of the FMAA's Joint Command Council (JCC).[2]
Post-Assad era
After the ousting of the Assad regime by a rebel offensive led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in December 2024, al-Tamer transitioned to the new transitional government's forces. In early 2025, he was referenced as a counter-terrorism commander.[4]
In September 2025, al-Tamer assumed command of the Desert Security Forces, a unit composed of former Free Syrian Army members tasked with patrolling the Syrian desert (Badia) to prevent ISIS resurgence. The force operates from the U.S.-controlled Al-Tanf base surrounding area and coordinates with American-led coalition efforts.[5] Under his leadership, the unit has conducted operations such as the July 2025 anti-ISIS raid in the Teloul Al Safa desert.
Current status
As of November 2025, al-Tamer continues to lead the Desert Security Forces in counter-ISIS operations in eastern Syria. He has emphasized the unit's role in monitoring ISIS sleeper cells through mobile detachments and fixed guard posts, stating that U.S. support has remained consistent post-regime change and that cooperation against terrorism has strengthened.[5] Al-Tamer has described ISIS's attempts to exploit the political transition as ongoing but disrupted by Syrian security forces' proactive measures.
References
- ^ a b "U.S. forces dismiss Syrian Free Army Commander in al-Tanf – Sources". North Press Agency. 2025-09-16. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ a b "Interview with the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo (FMAA)". Atlantic Council. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "With all eyes on Raqqa, US-backed rebels take on the Islamic State in Syria's mountains". Syria Direct. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Syrian prisoners in Lebanon demand justice through repatriation". The National (UAE). 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ a b "'We knew ISIS would never give up': Inside Syria's crackdown on a resurgent threat". The National (UAE). 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-11-09.