The millions of Alawites need a military leader who knows how to fight, not how to sell drugs and climb the ranks of corruption in the country. And indeed, they have found one.
Brig. General Dala is emerging as a key Alawite leader in Syria, challenging the rule of Julani’s regime and positioning himself as a potential alternative government. Since President Assad fled to Moscow, Syria has fractured along sectarian lines. While Sunnis expected to regain power, the Druze and Kurds rejected Julani’s rule due to his extremist past and began seeking autonomy.
The Alawites, Syria’s second-largest community (4-5 million people), have also risen in rebellion, aiming to establish control over the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.
Dala, a former senior commander in the Syrian army, led the elite 4th Armored Division under Maher al-Assad. He played a significant role in suppressing the uprising, particularly along the Israeli border in 2018.
Though closely associated with Iran-backed forces, his loyalty remained with Syria rather than foreign interests.
Now leading the Alawite rebellion, Dala has captured fighters from Julani’s forces and is demanding their withdrawal from Alawite areas in northwestern Syria. His forces possess hidden stockpiles of heavy weapons, making them a formidable opponent.
Both Iran and Russia recognize the Alawites' strategic importance, with Russia maintaining a presence in their territories.
Israel may also consider engaging with Brig. General Dala’s leadership, as it currently does with the Druze and Kurds, to influence Syria’s shifting dynamics.