Armed groups

76th Division (Hamza Division)

Formerly the Turkish-backed Hamza Division, integrated into the army as the 76th Division; under U.S., EU and UK sanctions.

Also known as

  • Hamza Division
  • Hamzat

Views: 7

Supported by independent sources

The UN Commission of Inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that individual members of the 76th Division committed violations during the March 2025 coastal violence. 1 The EU listed the division in May 2025, citing torture and arbitrary killings of civilians on the coast; it is also under U.S. sanctions since 2023 and UK sanctions since 2025. 2 3 4

It was led by Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, who reportedly resigned in August 2026. 5

People and bodies linked to it

LeaderPart ofSayf Boulad Abu BakrMinistry of Defence76th Division (HamzaDivision)
Legend
  • Supported by independent sources
  • According to testimony
  • Published allegation
  • Person
  • Organisation

Sources

  1. Official record Violence in the coastal and western central regions of Syria, January–March 2025 (A/HRC/59/CRP.4) — UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, August 11, 2025
  2. Official record Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1111 (EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime): listings of Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim, Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division — European Union, May 28, 2025
  3. Official record Treasury sanctions two Syria-based militias responsible for serious human rights abuses in northern Syria — U.S. Department of the Treasury, August 17, 2023
  4. Official record Financial Sanctions Notice: Syria (designations incl. Mohammed Hussein al-Jasim, Sayf al-Din Boulad, Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, Hamza Division) — UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, December 19, 2025
  5. Press Syria reshuffles military leadership as a controversial commander takes center stage — Alhurra, August 7, 2026