<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> It has been suggested that portions of this section be split out and merged into the article titled List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War, which already exists . (Discuss) (March 2017) </Td> </Tr> <P> A number of sources have emphasized that as of at least late 2015 / early 2016 the Syrian government was dependent on a mix of volunteers and militias rather than the Syrian Armed Forces . </P> <P> Before the uprising and war broke out, the Syrian Armed Forces were estimated at 325,000 regular troops and 280,000--300,000 reservists . Of the regular troops, 220,000 were' army troops' and the rest in the navy, air force and air defense force . Following defections as early as June 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated that by July 2012, tens of thousands of soldiers had defected, and a Turkish official estimated 60,000 . </P> <P> The Syrian NDF was formed out of pro-government militias . They receive their salaries and military equipment from the government, and number around 100,000 troops . The force acts in an infantry role, directly fighting against rebels on the ground and running counter-insurgency operations in coordination with the army, who provides them with logistical and artillery support . The force has a 500 - strong women's wing called "Lionesses of National Defense" which operates checkpoints . NDF members, like regular army soldiers, are allowed to loot the battlefields (but only if they participate in raids with the army), and can sell the loot for extra money . Sensing that they depend on the largely secular government, many of the militias of Syrian Christians (like Sootoro in Al - Hasakah) fight on the Syrian government's side and seek to defend their ancient towns, villages and farmsteads from ISIL (see also Christian Militias in Syria). </P>

How long has it been since the civil war