Attempts to reform the security sector in areas controlled by the Syrian National Army

The prolonged years of conflict in Syria left the country in a state with three regions of influence, after the central authority and its security institutions were undermined. Accordingly, it has been necessary for each party to provide alternatives; in order to carry out the burdens of providing services in each region, especially at the security level. In this regard, many attempts have appeared in the opposition-controlled areas in the northwest of the country, aiming to create institutions or structures entrusted with controlling security.

Accordingly, this study deals with attempts to reform the security situation in the Syrian National Army areas north of Aleppo, Raqqa and al-Hasakah, since the restoration of control over them from ISIS and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) between 2016 and 2019.

The study is limited to evaluating two prominent and specific cases of security reform in the Syrian opposition areas, after describing the security reality in them. The experiences those are addressed in this study are: the judiciary, the military police, and the Unified Operations Room (Azm), in addition to identifying the obstacles that hindered the reform of the security reality well, and the gaps in the current institutions 

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