Syrian government gives salary bonus to front-line soldiers

Syrian government gives salary bonus to front-line soldiers
Amid growing disenchantment and consecutive setbacks for the army, Syria's prime minister announced on Monday a monthly bonus of 10,000 Syrian pounds ($37) to soldiers fighting on the front lines.
2 min read
09 June, 2015
After significant military setbacks, the Syrian government seeks to boost the morale of soldiers (Getty)
Despite losing large swathes of land in the past two months to armed opposition groups, including the Nusra Front and the Islamic State group, Syrian soldiers are expected to receive a monthly raise starting in July. 

The pay raise will only go to soldiers serving on battlefronts, Prime Minister Wael al-Halaki told a parliament session broadcast on Syrian state television. This works out at around $37 at official rates and several dollars less on the black market.

Halaki said Syrians knew that war was not about "losing a battle here or there" but about the overall result. He described the armed forces as "strong" and "deployed across the country".

Syrian state television broadcast hours of army footage set to rousing music on Monday, showing soldiers shooting weapons, training in camps and being embraced by citizens.

According to Reuters, monthly salaries for soldiers and allied militia fighters range from around 14,000 Syrian pounds ($40) to 30,000 Syrian pounds ($110).

Officers can earn 45,000 pounds or more depending on rank. Civil servants, meanwhile, earn around 23,000-25,000 pounds.

Military disenchantment

As Hizballah fighters began to flock to Syria, tensions between the Lebanese fighters and Syrian soldiers emerged. Hizballah recruits earn significantly higher salaries, and receive it in US dollars - while Syrian troops' salaries are at the mercy of a devaluing local currency.

Hizballah fighters are also provided with daily fresh meals, while Syrian soldiers' daily ration is reported to amount to little more than a piece of bread and a potato. 

Last month, a Syrian soldier posted a photo on Facebook showing his daily ration: a loaf of bread with half a potato and an egg.

Under the photo, the soldier wrote: "The joke continues… for the heroic, brave, victorious, fearless, selfless soldier, breaker of world records of number of days in service, guard shifts, battles, missions and injuries. This is the food for an entire day: three pieces of bread…a potato (not at all moldy) and an egg". 

The post ended with a sarcastic note: "Thank God for everything, thank you my homeland, thank you for giving to us as we have given for the homeland." 

In Daraa, Syrian rebels overran a key regime base on Tuesday after 24 hours of fierce fighting.

Major Essam al-Rayes, said that the 2,000 troops from the opposition Southern Front alliance took part in the assault and captured the 52nd Brigade base.

The base lies close to a major highway running between Damascus and the Jordan border, AFP reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the civil war has now killed more than 230,000 people.