| 3rd Corps | |
|---|---|
| الفيلق الثالث | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Flag_of_the_Syrian_Arab_Armed_Forces.svg) Syrian Armed Forces Flag | |
| Active | 1985 – present[1] |
| Country |  Syria |
| Allegiance |  Syrian Armed Forces |
| Branch |  Syrian Army |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | up to 45,000 soldiers[2] |
| Garrison/HQ | Aleppo Al-Qutayfah (3rd Division)[2] Hama (8th Division) Homs (11th Division, Border Guard) Deir ez-Zor (17th Division) Aleppo (18th Division) |
| Engagements | Syrian Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Maj. Gen. Ahmed Moalla |
| Chief of Staff | Maj. Gen. Mohammad Nayouf[3] |
The 3rd Corps (Arabic: الفيلق الثالث) is a corps of the Syrian Army that was first formed in 1985. Richard Bennett wrote in 2001 that "three corps were formed in 1985 to give the Army more flexibility and to improve combat efficiency by decentralising the command structure, absorbing at least some of the lessons learned during the 1982 Lebanon War."[4] The 3rd Corps HQ was in Aleppo, based in the north and covered Hama, the Turkish and Iraqi borders, the Mediterranean coastline and was tasked with protecting the complex of chemical and biological warfare and missile production and launch facilities.[2] On 30 December 2023, Major General Ahmed Moalla was named as commander of the 3rd Corps.
- ^ Samuel M. Katz, Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars, Osprey Publishing Men-at-Arms 194, 1988, 13.
- ^ a b c Gregory Waters (18 July 2019). "The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army's Destruction and Rebirth". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Gregory Waters (28 March 2024). "Mohammad Nayouf now chief of staff of 3rd Corps (fmr commander 18th Div, Deir Ez Zor Sec Committee, & multiple SRG regiments). Adam Fayyad takes command of 18th Div (fmr 131st Brig commander)". Twitter. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Richard M. Bennett, The Syrian Military: A Primer, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, August/September 2001.