25th Special Mission Forces Division: Difference between revisions
Clarification as "spacial forces" clarified. |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
The division is one of few in the Syrian Army to deploy [[T-90]] tanks, another being the [[4th Armoured Division (Syria)|4th Mechanized Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-mobilize-t-90-tanks-upcoming-aleppo-offensive/|title=Tiger Forces mobilize T-90 tanks for upcoming Aleppo offensive|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=28 May 2016|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/convoy-of-russian-t-90-tanks-arrive-in-southern-aleppo/|title=Convoy of Russian T-90 tanks arrive in southern Aleppo|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=23 January 2016|accessdate=8 June 2016}}</ref> |
The division is one of few in the Syrian Army to deploy [[T-90]] tanks, another being the [[4th Armoured Division (Syria)|4th Mechanized Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-mobilize-t-90-tanks-upcoming-aleppo-offensive/|title=Tiger Forces mobilize T-90 tanks for upcoming Aleppo offensive|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=28 May 2016|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/convoy-of-russian-t-90-tanks-arrive-in-southern-aleppo/|title=Convoy of Russian T-90 tanks arrive in southern Aleppo|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=23 January 2016|accessdate=8 June 2016}}</ref> |
||
The classification of the Tiger Forces as "special forces" is questionable since they conduct battlefield operations in large formations, as opposed to small-unit covert missions typically assigned to special forces. The fact that the Tiger Forces is led by a major-general and contains subordinate units led by colonels suggests that it is a brigade- or division-sized formation. |
The classification of the Tiger Forces as "special forces" is questionable since they conduct battlefield operations in large formations, as opposed to small-unit covert missions typically assigned to special forces. The fact that the Tiger Forces is led by a major-general and contains subordinate units led by colonels suggests that it is a brigade- or division-sized formation. A more fitting description may be "shock" or "crack" troops. |
||
==Brigades== |
==Brigades== |
||
Revision as of 22:58, 29 July 2017
| Tiger Forces Qawat Al-Nimr (قوات النمر) | |
|---|---|
 Syrian Special Forces Patch | |
| Active | 2013–present |
| Country |  Syrian Arab Republic |
| Allegiance | Syrian Arab Republic |
| Branch |  Syrian Army |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Offensive operations |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan |
Tiger Forces or Qawat Al-Nimr (Template:Lang-ar) is a special forces unit of the Syrian Arab Army which functions primarily as an offensive unit in the Syrian Civil War. It has been described as a "hot commodity for any government offensive", but their relatively small numbers make it difficult to deploy them to multiple fronts at once.[1]
After successful operations in Latakia and Hama, Colonel Suheil al-Hassan was tasked a special project by the Syrian Armed Forces Central Command in the fall of 2013—to train and lead a Special Forces unit that would work primarily as an offensive unit. Colonel Hassan handpicked many of the soldiers that would later form the Tiger Forces.[2] On 25 December 2015, Suheil al-Hassan was promoted to major general after refusing to be brigadier general last year.[3] He played a key role in commanding Syrian troops during 2016 Aleppo campaign. Tiger Forces were tasked two times to cut the key supply lines to rebel-held Aleppo.
The division is one of few in the Syrian Army to deploy T-90 tanks, another being the 4th Mechanized Division.[4][5]
The classification of the Tiger Forces as "special forces" is questionable since they conduct battlefield operations in large formations, as opposed to small-unit covert missions typically assigned to special forces. The fact that the Tiger Forces is led by a major-general and contains subordinate units led by colonels suggests that it is a brigade- or division-sized formation. A more fitting description may be "shock" or "crack" troops.
Brigades
The Tiger Forces have multiple special operations brigades:
Cheetah Forces[6] or Qawat al-Fahoud (قوات الفهود)[7] — The current commander is Colonel Shadi Isma’el and the deputy commander is Colonel Lu’ayy Sleitan.[6] Subunits of the Cheetah Forces include Team 3 and Team 6. Team 6 were the first soldiers that ended the 35-month long Siege of Kuweires Military Airbase,[8][9] while Team 3 along with Suqur al-Sahara completed the East Aleppo ISIS encirclement.[10]
Panther Forces[11] — The current commander is Colonel Ali Shaheen.[12] They were involved in the Palmyra offensive (March 2016), where they were redeployed to another front after it was over.[11][12]
See also
References
- ^ Leith Fadel (10 November 2015). "Exclusive: Tiger Forces to Redeploy to Northern Hama". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (26 February 2015). "Who is Colonel Suheil al-Hassan of the Tiger Forces?". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (15 December 2015). "Prominent Tiger Forces Commander Promoted to Major General". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (28 May 2016). "Tiger Forces mobilize T-90 tanks for upcoming Aleppo offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (23 January 2016). "Convoy of Russian T-90 tanks arrive in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ a b Leith Fadel (19 October 2015). "Cheetah Forces Capture 30km of Territory from ISIS in East Aleppo: Kuweires Airport Within Sight". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ "The Russian Deployment in Syria and Iraq Makes Its Presence Felt" (pDF). Files.ethz.ch. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ Chris Tomson (11 November 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Advance in Southern and Eastern Aleppo – Latest Map Update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (10 November 2015). "Cheetah Forces Lift the Three Year Long Siege of the Kuweires Military Airbase". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (20 February 2016). "Tiger Forces complete the east Aleppo encirclement: 800+ ISIS fighters trapped". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ a b Leith Fadel (5 March 2016). "Russian Air Force hammers ISIS' oil routes in east Homs as the Syrian Army advances on Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ a b Leith Fadel (18 April 2016). "Syrian Army cancels the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 6 June 2016.