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Syrian Navy Armed Forces

The Syrian Navy was established on 29 August 1950 after the purchase of some naval ships from France. The initial personnel consisted of army soldiers who were sent to French naval academies for training. August 29 is considered an annual holiday for the Syrian Navy, celebrated every year, and was also chosen because it was the anniversary of the naval battle in 654.

The Syrian Arab Navy was the naval branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. The main role of the Syrian Navy was to defend the country’s coasts and ensure the security of Syria’s territorial waters. The coastal defense forces and the Syrian Marine have been associated with the navy since the late 20th century.

The Syrian Navy was a relatively small navy consisting of only 4,000 sailors, plus 2,500 reserves and 1,500 naval personnel. It was subordinate to the Latakia Regional Command of the Syrian Army, whose fleet was based in the ports of Banias, Latakia, Minet al-Baida, and Tartus. It was the smallest part of the Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces.

The Israeli Navy destroyed the Syrian fleet in Latakia on 9 December 2024. It came days after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country for Russia after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham successfully took over the country. Israel tried to destroy naval and other military assets before they fell into rebel hands.