Syrian army declares formation of new army corps from volunteers

Syrian army announced Tuesday the formation of a fifth army corps from volunteers with the aim of battling terrorism across the country, state news agency SANA reported.

The formation of the new corps is to restore security and stability to all of the Syrian territories and to support the Syrian forces in their war on terror, said the military statement.

It noted that any Syrian citizen can join the new formation in any Syrian province, adding that the volunteers must be physically fit and have already finished the compulsory military service.

The Syrian army has been engaged in battles against an array of rebel groups, including ultra-radical ones, such as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group for over five years. Endit