The Syrian Civil Defence Forces, also known as Self-Protection Squads, is a

civil defence Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, ...

organisation that operates in

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

. It is also known as The People's Army. Directors-General of the organisation have included Brigadier General Abdel-Chani Jamal. The forces are divided into units or squads. The Syrian Civil Defence Forces have been part of the ICDO (

International Civil Defence Organisation The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) is an intergovernmental organization with the objective to contribute to the development by States of structures ensuring the protection and assistance of population and safeguarding property and ...

) from 1972 onward, when there were around 50,000 volunteers. They are not connected to, and should not be confused with, the White Helmets / Syria Civil Defence (SCD).

Notes

{{Reflist Emergency services in Syria Volunteer organizations Pro-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war