4th Armoured Division (Syria)
The 4th Armoured Division (Arabic: الفرقة الرابعة, romanized: al-Firqa ar-Rābiʿah) is an elite formation of the Syrian Army whose primary purpose is to defend the Syrian government from internal and external threats. The division is considered one of the most combat-ready formations of the Syrian Arab Army. It played a key role in some battles of the Syrian Civil War.[17]
4th Armoured Division
1984 – present
"Ghiath Forces" (42nd Brigade)[3]
- Syrian Civil War
- Siege of Daraa
- Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh
- Siege of Jisr al-Shughur[4]
- Siege of Baniyas
- Idlib Governorate clashes
- Siege of Homs[5]
- 2011–2012 Damascus clashes
- Battle of Damascus
- Battle of Aleppo
- Battle of Zabadani (2015)
- Rif Dimashq offensive (June–August 2016)
- Khan al-Shih offensive (October–November 2016)
- Siege of Wadi Barada
- Qaboun offensive (2017)
- 2017 Jobar offensive
- Beit Jinn offensive
- Battle of Harasta (2017–2018)
- Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)
- Battle of Khasham
- Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)
- Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)
- As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018)[6]
- Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)
- Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)
- March 2020 Daraa clashes
- 2021 Daraa offensive[7]
- Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)
Maj. Gen. Maher al-Assad[8]
Brig. Gen. Bassem Adel Allasha[9]
History[edit]
1984–2011[edit]
The division has its roots in the Defense Companies commanded by Rifaat al-Assad, younger brother of President Hafez al-Assad. After Rifaat was banished from Syria in 1984, the Defense Companies were reorganised into the 569th Armoured Division, and later into the 4th Armoured Division.[18]
The Division is regarded by some as the best trained and best equipped of the Syrian Army.[19] The 4th Armoured Division, the Republican Guard, and Syria's secret police form the heart of the country's security forces. As a result, the Division is drawn mostly from members of the same Alawite group as the Assad family.[20]
The Division has a military base in the south of Damascus, covering about 91 square kilometres (35 sq mi) and including several mountain bunkers. Its main entrance gate is located next to the village of Al-Horjelah.[21][22]
Operational history in the Syrian Civil War[edit]
The division played a key role in the early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war (2011–2012) in the government's attempts to defeat the rebels. The division's units were deployed in the city of Daraa, the coastal city of Baniyas, Homs, Idlib, Aleppo and others.[37] Since 2012, the division has been stationed in Damascus. The first major operation outside of Damascus Governorate in which the 4th Division took part was Battle for Idlib in 2012. The division then conducted operations in the western and northern parts of the Damascus governorate, which consisted of blocking rebel enclaves in Wadi Barad, Jimraya, in the west Ghouta and in Al-Tal. Subsequently, the division led the siege of Darayya and Muadamiyat.[38]
In June 2013, it was reported that commander of the division General Maher al-Assad was commanding government troops in Homs and Aleppo.[39] After the start of Russian military operation in Syria in 2015, the division was able to take the cities of Muadamiyat al-Sham, Khan al-Shih, Darayya and the Wadi Barada valley. In 2017, the division took on combat operations in Qaboun, which ended with victory. In November 2017, division units took part in the assault on Abu Kamal.[40] Between 2019 and 2020, the unit also participated in the Dawn of Idlib 1 and Dawn of Idlib 2 operations.[41] Between 1 and 3 March 2020, the 4th Division and 9th Armoured Division stormed Al-Sanamayn during the 2020 Daraa Clashes.[42] The division led the anti-rebel operations during the 2021 Daraa offensive.[43] In March 2024, units of the 42nd Brigade have deployed to Deir Ez-Zor.[44] It is the first combat deployment for the 4th Division since 2020 Dawn of Idlib 2 operation.