Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Monday, 19 January, that it had opened enrollment for a men’s enlisted personnel course for Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria), al-Hasakah (northeastern Syria), and Raqqa (northern Syria).

According to the criteria published by the ministry on its Facebook page, applicants must meet the following conditions:

• The applicant must be a resident of Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah, or Raqqa, based on civil registry records.

• Height must be at least 168 cm, with weight proportionate to height.

• The applicant must have held Syrian Arab nationality for more than five years, or fall under an equivalent category.

• The applicant must have been born between 1 January 1994 and 15 January 2008.

• The applicant must hold at least a middle school certificate.

• The applicant must be medically fit and able to serve, as determined by the relevant committees.

• The applicant must have good conduct and no felony conviction, nor a dishonorable misdemeanor conviction, nor a prison sentence exceeding three months.

• The applicant must not have previously been dismissed or removed from service in government institutions.

• The applicant must not be married to a non-Syrian woman.

The ministry said the course will last at least 60 days, and graduates will receive the rank of Guard.

Required documents, according to the Interior Ministry, include a document folder, an ID card, a personal photo, a civil registry extract, a certified copy of the latest educational attainment, a family statement, and a non-conviction certificate.

The required paperwork also includes a permit to participate issued by the ministry or department the applicant belongs to if the applicant is a public employee, and a document issued by the General Registry Directorate for workers, stating the applicant’s employment status.

Interior Ministry moves into eastern governorates

The Syrian Interior Ministry also announced Monday, 19 January, that it has begun entering the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor Governorate as part of what it described as a plan “aimed at organized deployment across all towns and villages in the area.”

According to its official platforms, the move comes “in line with a comprehensive security plan aimed at protecting civilians and public and private property, and enhancing security and stability in the region.”

The ministry said its current focus is to bolster security deployment by organizing patrols, establishing checkpoints, protecting civilians and their property, and reinforcing order and stability.

On Sunday, 18 January, the Interior Ministry said its units had begun entering Raqqa city ahead of an organized deployment across its neighborhoods.

The ministry’s movements come after northeastern Syria saw rapid field developments in recent days, resulting in the Syrian army taking control of large areas previously held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), after several days of clashes between the two sides. The parties later reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the SDF’s integration into Syrian state institutions, amid anticipation over implementation of the deal’s provisions and reports of some alleged violations.