Four of the Strongest Arab Armies Disintegrated in 20 Years: A Closer Look

Over the past two decades, several Arab countries have witnessed seismic changes that led to the disintegration of their armies. Once holding power with an iron grip and serving as the backbone of their nations’ regimes, these armies collapsed under various pressures, leaving their countries defenseless and in turmoil.

Some of these armies were dismantled due to foreign invasions, as in Iraq, while others fell apart following popular uprisings where they played a direct role in suppressing protests, contrary to their primary role of defending the nation against external threats.

The disintegration of these armies triggered widespread chaos and left these nations without a unified defense force. This vacuum led local factions and militias to emerge as substitutes for national defense, further destabilizing the internal political and security landscapes.

Below, we examine the Arab armies that experienced disintegration over the past 20 years.

The Iraqi Army

The modern Iraqi Army was established in 1921 following the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the British occupation of Iraq. Its first military unit was formed that year.

Before its collapse, the Iraqi Army had an estimated strength of 1.4 million soldiers, making it the fifth-largest army in the world in terms of combat efficiency and equipment. It possessed advanced weaponry, ballistic missiles, and heavily developed armaments, and it had fought two major wars: an eight-year conflict with Iran and the Gulf War in 1991 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

The army disintegrated following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Despite fierce resistance by some units, the American administrator Paul Bremer issued an order in May 2003 to dissolve the Iraqi Army. The United States oversaw the training and reformation of a new Iraqi military force, built to align with American strategic goals.

The Libyan Army

The Libyan Army was formed in 1969 after Muammar Gaddafi’s coup, replacing the royal army of King Idris Al-Senussi.

It was one of the most powerful armies in Africa, particularly in North Africa, with an estimated strength of 50,000 soldiers. The Libyan Army controlled the country with an iron grip and had a formidable arsenal of tanks, chemical weapons, ballistic missiles, and air defense capabilities.

However, years of regional conflicts weakened the army, and the decisive blow came during the Libyan uprising in 2011. The army was used to suppress the Libyan people who revolted against Gaddafi’s authoritarian rule. The military suffered major defections and crippling losses after NATO airstrikes targeted its forces.

Since its disintegration during the Libyan revolution, the army has remained divided, with separate forces in the east and west of the country, each loyal to different political factions.

The Yemeni Army

The Yemeni Army traces its origins to the early 20th century, following the Ottoman withdrawal from Yemen in 1919. Initially aligned with the Mutawakkilite Kingdom, the army underwent various transformations, particularly after the establishment of the Republic of Yemen in 1962.

The Yemeni Army, at its height, was one of the most powerful in the Arab region, ranked fifth in terms of strength. It maintained a significant arsenal of long-range missiles, heavy artillery, and naval capabilities due to Yemen’s strategic location near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea.

However, the army disintegrated during the 2012 revolution against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Factions within the military split between supporting and opposing Saleh, leading to armed conflict that decimated the army’s structure. The Houthi rebels’ capture of Sana’a and the military’s assets further accelerated its collapse. To this day, Yemen remains without a unified military force, exacerbating the country’s instability.

The Syrian Army

The Syrian Army was established in 1946 after the end of British colonial rule. It became the dominant force in the region after the Ottoman Army withdrew under the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

At its peak, the Syrian Army was ranked the sixth-strongest in the Arab world and 47th globally, with advanced military and logistical capabilities. The army’s position near Israel made it a central player in regional conflicts, including the 1973 war with Israel.

However, the Syrian Army, controlled by the Ba’ath Party since its coup, turned against its people in 1982 during the Hama massacre. Its role in suppressing the Syrian uprising in 2011 further eroded its standing, with an estimated 40,000 officers and soldiers defecting. Over time, the army deteriorated into a militia-like force loyal to the regime. It eventually collapsed entirely on December 8, 2024, following a large-scale offensive by armed factions that captured key cities, including Damascus.