media reported, that the Russian Aerospace Forces helped the Syrians recapture the strategically important city of Sarakib, abandoned by government forces late last week. The operation to liberate Sarakib was carried out by units of the "Tigers", Shia Hezbollah and reserve units of the National Guard.
Ruling osvoʙoƶdal Sarakiʙ
"Tigers" by inertia are called the 25th Special Forces Division - an elite tactical formation of the Syrian Arab armed forces (SAVS, Farm), specializing in offensive operations. Previously, this formation called itself the "Tiger Force", it also included brigades - "Cheetah Forces" and "Cheetahs".
Loud names were confirmed by successful offensive operations, for which the "Tigers" were even called invincible. Last year they (in fact, militia militias) tried to pour into the Syrian Arab army (Farm) and assigned the status of a special division. Actually, The forces of the Tigers (4000 fighters) pull on a good brigade. The inflated status of the division was a recognition of the military merits of the militias.
However, the Tigers refused the offer to enter the CAA.. They did not want to lose organizational and financial independence, because the salary in the militia is twice as high, than in the army (the formation is financed by a well-known investor in Syria, Rami Maklouf, a cousin of President Assad). Named a division, "Tigers" are still fighting well. The liberation of Sarakib is another confirmation of this.
National Guard, took part in the operation to liberate the city, also stands apart in the Syrian armed forces. These are elite troops., designed to protect the Syrian government and maintain security in central Damascus.
During the war, they grew to the scale of a full-fledged division., supplemented by two tank and mechanized brigades, regiments of special purpose and special forces. They are used in critical sectors of the front, what was the retreat from Sarakib, again cut through the strategic highway Damascus - Hama - Aleppo. According to experts, the reserves of the National Guard played a decisive role in the liberation of the city.
The strike force of Bashar al-Assad
And yet, the main striking force of Bashar al-Assad remains the Syrian Arab army. She was badly beaten by the war.. Suffice it to say, that in parts there were practically no light armored vehicles of the pre-war state. Serious losses were suffered by personnel. It is formed by call. Therefore, a certain combination of soldiers is formed in the units, with combat experience, and recruits.
This union does not always contribute to good luck.. Sarakiʙ, eg, left because of a frivolous attitude to a combat mission. According to observers, units did not begin to gain a foothold on the first line of the line - to dig trenches, take other protective measures. Therefore, they were easily swept away by the fire of Turkish artillery and shock drones..
Also, the air defense systems and tanks left without proper shelter and protection were mediocrely lost..
media reports, that Russian military advisers managed to restore relative order in the Syrian troops. The result of their work was, among other things, the liberation of Sarakib.
Today there are several hundred tanks in the SAA arsenal (basically – Soviet-built), cannon and rocket artillery, heavy flamethrower systems. About 100 thousands of military personnel initially combined into five army corps, two separate armored and mechanized divisions.
Several Chadian mercenaries killed in clashes with terrorists in Misurata
The army is supported by more than two dozen attack helicopters and about 80 Flight. Before the attack on Idlib, this force significantly outnumbered the terrorist groups entrenched in the province.. It was, until the Turkish military intervened.
They used electronic warfare in Idlib, strike and reconnaissance drones with targeting for long-range artillery. The Syrian army faced such an enemy for the first time. Hence its obvious failures.. We must adapt to the new conditions of war. With the return of Sarakib, the Syrian army showed, that she is able to cope with this task.
For your home and shelter
The National Defense Forces will help the army. They appeared, when Bashar al-Assad failed general mobilization. It was at the height of the war against the terrorists of the "Islamic State" banned in Russia.. As war correspondents wrote at the time, in the suburbs of Damascus there were battles between government forces and Islamist militants, and in the capital's coffee houses there were men of mobilization age, far from responding to the president's call to defend Syria.
Then Bashar al-Assad initiated the creation of volunteer militias according to the national, confessional and territorial principle. Here he found support, since it was primarily about protecting the homes and settlements of the militias.
With the exit from the war of the Bedouin tribes, liberation of Druze territories, Armenians, Palestinians, Christian, Alawites, the national defense force has grown to 110 thousands of fighters and strengthened the military position of the Syrian government.
Volunteer formations are now used as a reserve in critical areas, although the main purpose of these forces is territorial defense. In the battles for Sarakib, eg, local militias took part in the cleansing of the liberated settlements from the remnants of terrorist groups.
The given examples show, that Syrian government forces today have the capacity to destroy the last pockets of terrorism on their territory. Only here is the second largest NATO army - Turkish, defending Islamic militants, they can't win without help.
Gennady Granovsky
