| Tiger Forces Qawat Al-Nimr (فوات النمر) | |
|---|---|
 Syrian Special Forces Patch | |
| Active | 2013–present |
| 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 (Arabic language: قوات النمر) 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]
The division is one of few in the Syrian Army to deploy T-90 tanks, another being the 4th Mechanized Division.[4][5]
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
- Republican Guard
- Suqour al-Sahara
- Ba'ath Brigades
- Syrian Marines
References
- ↑ Leith Fadel (10 November 2015). "Exclusive: Tiger Forces to Redeploy to Northern Hama". Al-Masdar News. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/exclusive-tiger-forces-to-redeploy-to-northern-hama/. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ Leith Fadel (26 February 2015). "Who is Colonel Suheil al-Hassan of the Tiger Forces?". Al-Masdar News. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/colonel-suheil-al-hassan-tiger-forces/. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ Leith Fadel (15 December 2015). "Prominent Tiger Forces Commander Promoted to Major General". Al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-commander-promoted-to-major-general/. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ↑ Leith Fadel (28 May 2016). "Tiger Forces mobilize T-90 tanks for upcoming Aleppo offensive". Al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-mobilize-t-90-tanks-upcoming-aleppo-offensive/. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ↑ Leith Fadel (23 January 2016). "Convoy of Russian T-90 tanks arrive in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/convoy-of-russian-t-90-tanks-arrive-in-southern-aleppo/. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Leith Fadel (19 October 2015). "Cheetah Forces Capture 30km of Territory from ISIS in East Aleppo: Kuweires Airport Within Sight". Al-Masdar News. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/cheetah-forces-capture-30km-of-territory-from-isis-in-east-aleppo-kuweires-airport-within-sight/. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ↑ https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/194054/379_Bodansky.pdf
- ↑ Chris Tomson (11 November 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Advance in Southern and Eastern Aleppo – Latest Map Update". Al-Masdar News. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-and-hezbollah-advance-in-southern-and-eastern-aleppo-latest-map-update/. 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. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/cheetah-forces-lift-the-three-year-long-siege-of-the-kuweires-military-airbase/. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ↑ Leith Fadel (20 February 2016). "Tiger Forces complete the east Aleppo encirclement: 800+ ISIS fighters trapped". Al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-complete-the-east-aleppo-encirclement-800-isis-fighters-trapped/. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 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. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-air-force-hammers-isis-east-homs-syrian-army-advances-palmyra/. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Leith Fadel (18 April 2016). "Syrian Army cancels the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor offensive". Al-Masdar News. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-cancels-palmyra-deir-ezzor-offensive/. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
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