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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syrian "Tiger Forces" - Intro & History of Implementation

2022-12-15

[GreyDynamics] 1. Intro:

The 25th Special Mission Forces Division, more commonly known by its previous name “Tiger Forces,” is a special forces unit in the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). In Arabic, the unit goes by the Quwwat al-Nimr. They serve as the shock troops of the Syrian regime, being present in almost every major offensive the SAA has launched in the decade-long civil war. The Tiger Forces are a “hot commodity for any government offensive” because of their high levels of training and flexibility. (Source)

They are commanded by Suheil al-Hassan: one of the most talented generals in the SAA, who has seen many successes against rebel forces throughout his career. He is reported as vastly preferring the Russians and principal backer over Iranians. The Tiger Forces and their commander have a rivalry with the more pro-Iranian traditional elite unit, the republican guard, which is commanded by Maher al-Assad, the president’s brother. (Source) With fighting resuming in part of Syria and the apparent deployment of some members of the Tiger Forces to Ukraine, they will increasingly play a role in Syria’s future.

Sections relating history, personnel, equipment, and key actions can be read at the link.

6. Summary

It is clear that the Tiger Forces under Suheil al-Hassan have played an instrumental role in the Syrian conflict. Being present at every major offensive regime forces have launched and had a large personnel count due to the old militia style organisation under the AFI. Furthermore, with the increasing number of Syrian fighters being located in Ukraine, it seems the Tiger Forces remain a fertile recruiting ground for the Wagner group. Indeed Suheil al-Hassan is a figure to watch in the future as he is a certified Alawite hero in the eyes of the government forces. In a regime which relies on a cult of personality around its president Bashar al-Assad, such fame and legend as “The Tiger” possesses can quickly become a curse.

Posted by:Slenter Panda4300

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