Syrian Republican Guard
الحرس الجمهوري السوري
Republican Guard shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1976–present
Country Syria
Allegiance President of Syria
Branch Syrian Arab Army
TypeMechanized infantry
RoleShock troops
Size25,000[1] or 60,000 as of 2016[2]
Garrison/HQMount Qasioun, Damascus
Tactical color marking
Engagements
Commanders
Supreme CommanderMaj. Gen. Malik Aliaa[5][6]
CommanderMaj. Gen. Shoaeb Suleiman[7]
Deputy CommanderBrig. Gen. Mohamed Qasem[8]
30th Division CommanderMaj. Gen. Saleh Abdullah[9]
Brigade CommandersBrig. Gen. Aymen Jaber (103th Brigade)[10]
Maj. Gen. Issam Zahreddine (104th Brigade)  †[11]
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Nayouf (105th Brigade)
Notable
commanders		Bashar al-Assad
Maj. Gen. Adnan Makhlouf
Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass

The Syrian Republican Guard (Arabic: الحرس الجمهوري السوري, romanized: al-Ḥaras as-Sūrīyah al-Jumhūrīy), also known as the Presidential Guard, is an elite 25,000 man mechanized division, although it may actually approach corps size with around 60,000 guardsmen.[2] Its main purpose is to protect the capital of Syria, Damascus, from any foreign or domestic threats. The Guard was the only Syrian military unit allowed within the capital before the civil war.[13]

History

The Guard was formed in 1976 after the Syrian occupation of Lebanon to protect the increasingly unpopular president Hafez al-Assad. Major-General Adnan Makhlouf commanded the Guard from 1976 until 1997. The Republican Guard is used mostly to protect top Syrian government officials from any external threats and to serve as a counter-weight to the other powerful Syrian Army formations near the capital, the 4th Mechanized Division, the 3rd Armoured Division, and the 14th Special Forces (Airborne) Division.[14] Many members of the Assad family have served in the Republican Guard. The current president Bashar al-Assad was a Colonel, and was given control of a brigade. His younger brother Maher was also a Colonel in the Republican Guard.[15]

Structure

At the outset of the 2011 Syrian Civil War, the Republican Guard included three mechanized brigades and two "security regiments." The overall force structure is comparable to a conventional mechanized infantry division, but like the 4th Armored Division, the Republican Guard is outfitted with better equipment and maintained at full strength.

The main ground combat unit of the Syrian military is often called a brigade or regiment and is between 500 and 1,000 strong. This is considerably smaller than a corresponding Western formation of that designation. For reasons of esprit de corps, these retain their pre-civil war titles as tank, infantry, mechanised, artillery, special forces and airborne Republican Guard brigades or regiments. However, their internal organisation is now very different from their pre-civil war structure.[16]

Order of Battle (2021)

In the last days of October 2017, Jane's Information Group published in its Jane's Intelligence Review an article on the current military situation of the Syrian Arab Army and its future challenges. The text reflects the transformation that the battle order has presented through the conflict, from the old order of battle of the Soviet influence to the current one, more adapted to the new challenges.[17]

Between 2017 and 2021, Syrian Republican Guard's battle order was partially changed and new units were created.[18]

Syrian Republican Guard (2021)[18]
  • 100th Artillery Regiment (equipped with 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) howitzers and BM-21 Grad rocket launchers, is able to repel any attack by enemy forces in the city and its suburbs.)
  • 101st and 102nd Infantry "Security" Regiments (whose task is to provide security to the President, government ministers, senior government officials and the Army headquarters and other government institutions)[19][20][21]
  • 103rd Commando Brigade
  • 104th Commando Brigade
  • 105th Mechanized Brigade
  • 47th Special Forces Regiment
  • 800th Regiment[20][23]
  • 30th Division[24][25][26]
    • 16th Storming Brigade (created in 2020)[9]
    • 18th Mechanized Brigade – formerly part of the 10th Mechanised Division[27]
    • 102nd Commando Brigade[20]
    • 106th Mechanized Brigade
    • 123rd Special Forces Brigade[28]
    • 124th Special Forces Brigade[29][30]
    • 93rd Special Forces Regiment
    • 147th Special Forces Regiment
    • Artillery Regiment

Other special units:

  • Lionesses of Defense Armored Brigade[31][32]
  • Popular Security and Support Forces (dissolved in 2019)[33]

Operational history in the Syrian Civil War

At the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the Republican Guard kept out of the conflict, with only the regular Syrian Armed Forces fighting.

In June 2012, the Republican Guard clashed with rebels near its housing compounds and bases in the suburbs of Qudsaya and al-Hamah, about 8 kilometers from central Damascus.[34]

The unit has been accused by Human Rights Watch of engaging in human rights abuses during the conflict.[35] In 2012, Republican guard units played an important role in repelling opposition offensives on Damascus and Aleppo.[36]

Later on, Republican Guard units were deployed to government bases in the North and East of the country, in order to bolster and stiffen the resistance against rebel advances.

400 Syrian Republican Guard fighters were reportedly called in as reinforcements during the Battle of Al-Hasakah.[37]

The 103rd brigade reportedly operated in the Latakia province where (in 2013) it assisted other pro-government units in stopping opposition assaults on the Alawit heartland. The brigade also reportedly participated in offensive operations which partially expelled rebels from the Latakia province.[38]

The 124th brigade reportedly participated in the successful defense of IS attacks on the Tabqa airbase in 2014, before the evacuation of the airport.[39] The brigade reportedly defended the Ithriya-Khanasser highway thus preserving a major supply line to Aleppo. The brigade was reported in January 2018 directing the capture of the al-Hass Plain and the Offensive towards Abu-Duhur from the north (front of south Aleppo)[40]

The 104th brigade is well known in the media due to its multi-year deployment against ISIL in Deir ez-Zor.[41] Deployed to the area in late 2012, according to some sources (other sources state that the brigade was not deployed to Deir ez-Zor before early 2014), the brigade, along with other SAA elements, defended pro-government-held territory in Deir ez-Zor. The brigade was largely under siege from January 2015, supported from the air by the Syrian Arab Air Force and Russian Air Force.[42] In early 2018 reports emerged that the unit was transferred back to Damascus.[43]

In 2016 elements of the 102nd, 106th brigades and the 800th regiment were reported to have taken part in the successful Aleppo campaign which expelled opposition elements from the city.[21]

In late 2016 and early 2017, together with other pro-government units, the 800th regiment was reported to have stopped an ISIL offensive by defending the T4 airbase and preventing a possible ISIL assault on Homs.[44][45]

105th brigade was largely employed in Damascus and the surrounding areas, mainly focusing on the East Ghouta front[46][47] which has been an opposition stronghold for years, reportedly containing 25,000 opposition fighters.[48][49][50]

Following several deployments to the Aleppo front[51][52] the 106th brigade reportedly returned to the Damascus operating area where it continued combat operations.[53][54][55]

On October 18, 2017, Issam Zahreddine, a Major General leading the Syrian government's fight against ISIL in Deir ez-Zor and known as "Lion of the Republican Guard,"[56][57] was killed when a land mine struck his vehicle in the Hwaijet Saqer area of Deir ez-Zor's countryside during a military operation.[11][58][56]

In March 2021, its commander since January 2021, Major General Malik Aliaa (formerly Commander of the Republican Guard's 30th Division) was sanctioned by the United Kingdom, which named him as "Responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population by troops under his command, particularly during the increased violence of the offensives on north-west Syria of 2019–2020."[5]

Uniform and insignia

The Republican Guard uniform is distinct from the regular Army uniform. Service dress consists of woodland camouflage worn with red berets, rather than the standard black or green, red epaulettes, red lanyards, and brown leather belts with green camouflaged shoes.[59] On ceremonial occasions, officers wear red peaked caps instead of a beret.[60] Commandos of the Guard can easily been discerned from other units by their 'القوات الخاصة – "Commandos" – patch, but are only rarely seen wearing their red beret.[59]

Weapons

The Republican Guard tends to usually be better equipped than the standard Syrian Army. The Republican Guard has been documented and photographed using the American made M-16 5.56×45mm rifle.[61] The Soviet made AKM 7.62×39mm rifle is also used with a folding stock which makes it the AKMS variant. The AK-74 and the AKS-74U Carbine is used along with the more modern AK-74M which both are chambered for 5.45×39mm. The AK-74M rifles are believed to have entered Syria in the mid to late 1990s following a deal with Russia.The AK-74M is also sometimes seen with an NSPU night vision optic sight or a GP-25 Grenade Launcher in some cases.[62]

Members of the Republican Guard have also been seen with the Glock handgun which is in their holster.[63] The Makarov PM 9×18mm pistol has also been seen in use with the Guard and in holsters. Maher al-Assad, who is in the Republican Guard as a Commander and also is the brother of current President Bashar al-Assad, is seen with a Springfield Armory XD pistol in his holster while visiting troops.[64]

The NSV machine gun chambered for 12.7×108mm has also been used by the Republican Guard during the civil war and is usually seen being used whilst the guard members are in a building firing at rebels. The PKM machine gun chambered in 7.62×54mmR is also used by the Republican Guard.[65]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Syrian rebel leader to Haaretz: Assad's opposition will secure chemical weapons". Haaretz. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Сколько людей и оружия по обе линии сирийского противостояния". Газета.Ru. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Holliday, Joseph (March 2013). "The Assad Regime, From Counterinsurgency to Civil War Middle East Security Report 8" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. ↑ ABC News. "Government Troops Advance in Syria's Largest City". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 "New UK sanctions targeting Assad regime for repressing the Syrian people". GOV.UK. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (28 December 2018). "Syrian military names new commander of elite Republican Guard". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "EU sanctions Assad, senior Syrian officers". NPA Syria. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "EU sanctions Assad, senior Syrian officers". NPA Syria. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 Gregory Waters (12 September 2022). "From Tiger Forces to the 16th Brigade: Russia's evolving Syrian proxies". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Exclusive: Over 900 Syrian Marines join elite military shield forces". 23 February 2017.
  11. 1 2 Ensor, Josie (18 October 2017). "Top Syrian general killed by Isil landmine near Deir Ezzor". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "Internal Server Error". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. ↑ MEIB (August 2000). "Syria's Praetorian Guards: A Primer". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (7). Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  14. ↑ Paul, James (1990). Human rights in Syria. Human Rights Watch. p. 50. ISBN 9780929692692. republican guard.
  15. ↑ Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview" (PDF): 379, 384. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ↑ Ripley, Tim. "Syrian army prepares for post-conflict challenges" (PDF). janes.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Syrian Army Prepares For Post-Conflict Challenges" (PDF). Janes.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  18. 1 2 Syria - The Special Forces and the Elite Units
  19. ↑ "Troublesome allies: How the Syrian regime is reintegrating loyalist militias". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  20. 1 2 3 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ↑ Al-Jabassini, Abdullah (2019). From Insurgents to Soldiers: The Fifth Assault Corps in Daraa, Southern Syria. Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria. European University Institute. ISBN 978-92-9084-767-0.
  23. ↑ Leith Fadel (23 November 2016). "Four high-ranking jihadist commanders killed in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  24. ↑ "Syria's Troublesome Militias". Carnegie Middle East Center. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  25. ↑ Semenov, Kirill. "The Syrian Armed Forces Seven Years into the Conflict: From a Regular Army to Volunteer Corps". russiancouncil.ru. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  26. ↑ Paul Antonopoulos (22 January 2017). "New Syrian Arab Army Division established in preparation of new offensive". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  27. ↑ "The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army's Destruction and Rebirth". Middle East Institute.
  28. ↑ Gregory Waters (18 July 2019). "The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army's Destruction and Rebirth". Middle East Institute. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  29. ↑ Gregory Waters (12 May 2020). "Current Syrian Army Deployments". International Review. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Republican Guard brigade to join Tiger Forces offensive on Sukhnah: reports". 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  31. ↑ "Arab armies turn to women: An illusion or a new reality?". The New Arab. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  32. ↑ Loveday Morris (22 January 2013). "Assad's Lionesses: the female last line in the battle for Syria". The Independent. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  33. ↑ "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  34. ↑ "Activists: Syrian rebels clash with elite troops". USA Today. Associated Press. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Appendix 1: Structure and Command of Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies". Human Rights Watch. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  36. ↑ "Urban warfare: In Aleppo, battles for city blocks". 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  37. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Republican Guard Arrives in Al-Hasakah City to Forestall ISIS Advance". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Syrian Army's progress in Latakia since 2013". 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Facebook में लॉग इन करें". Hi-in.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  40. ↑ "Distinguished Syrian Army brigade leads south Aleppo offensive against Islamist militias". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  41. ↑ EDT, Tom O'Connor On 10/18/17 at 2:00 PM (18 October 2017). "One of Assad's closest generals is killed outside the Syrian city he helped free from ISIS". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ↑ "Two years of siege in Deir Ezzor". en.deirezzor24.net. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  43. ↑ Aboufadel, Leith (7 January 2018). "Breaking: Elite Syrian Army force leaves Deir Ezzor for east Damascus offensive". Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  44. ↑ "Complete battlefield update, map of Syrian War". 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Fortress T4: An Airbase at War – bellingcat". 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  46. ↑ Aboufadel, Leith (26 December 2014). "Rif Dimashq: The Republican Guard Destroys Another Tunnel in Jobar". Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  47. ↑ Aboufadel, Leith (16 November 2017). "Syrian command announces new leader of Republican Guard in east Damascus". Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  48. ↑ "VIDEO: Syrian Army smashes militant-held Damascus district with missiles". 2 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  49. ↑ "Complete Battle Map of Syria: October 2015 Update". 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  50. ↑ "Russian Experts: The Kremlin Must Tame Damascus And Tehran". MEMRI. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  51. ↑ "November 2015 Briefs – Jamestown". jamestown.org. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  52. ↑ News, Masdar (4 May 2016). "Russian ground troops destroyed rebels in Aleppo as Syrian Army retakes vital fortification / Video". Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  53. ↑ "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  54. ↑ "VIDEO: Islamist rebels foil Syrian Army assault on besieged suburb in east Damascus". 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  55. ↑ "Combat footage: Syrian Army reinstates siege of Al-Qaboun district in east Damascus". 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  56. 1 2 "Military commander of Syria's Deir al-Zour operation killed in mine explosion – Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  57. ↑ "Senior-level Syrian Army official killed in battle | JerusalemOnline". Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  58. ↑ "The Latest: White House sees new phase in Syria after Raqqa – ABC News". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  59. 1 2 Stijn Mitzer, Joost Oliemans (28 February 2017). "Photo Report: The Syrian Arab Army (2)". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  60. ↑ Gregory Waters (11 December 2018). "Syria's Republican Guard: Growth and fragmentation". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  61. ↑ ALN54DZ [@Aln54Dz] (30 June 2018). "@IvanSidorenko1 The legacy of Issam Zahreddine. RIP https://t.co/GBTRkpeTDE" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 December 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  62. ↑ Oryx (19 February 2015). "From Russia with Love, Syria's AK-74Ms". bellingcat. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  63. ↑ Serge [@Zinvor] (25 October 2014). "Col. Suheil Hassan "The Tiger" makes an appearance in Morek after its capture by SAA. He is leading Hama offensive. http://t.co/az8vV7GWFI" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  64. ↑ "Maher al-Assad Visits Frontlines in Idleb". The Syrian Observer. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  65. ↑ Laura Lavinia (18 October 2018). "La última carta de Issam Zahreddine – 14 Milímetros". 14milimetros.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

Further reading

  • Kenneth M. Pollack, Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness 1948–91, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, 2002, and Pollack's book reviewed in International Security, Vol. 28, No.2.
  • Richard Bennett, "The Syrian Military: A Primer" MEIB Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 8, August/September 2001

33°32′57″N 36°15′31″E / 33.5492°N 36.2587°E / 33.5492; 36.2587

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