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 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.[9]
The Division is regarded by some as the best trained and best equipped of the Syrian Army.[10] 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.[11] About 80 percent of the division's soldiers and officers are Alawites and nearly 90 percent of them are career soldiers, in contrast to the conscripts who comprise most of the army's other units.[12]
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.
During the uprising phase of the Syrian civil war, the 4th Armoured Division played a key role in attempting to put down uprisings, being sent to quell protests in the southern city of Daraa, the coastal city of Baniyas, the central province of Homs and the northern province of Idlib. Alawite officers from the 4th Armoured Division have been sent to other formations within the Syrian army in an attempt by the government to keep a closer eye and firmer grip on many Sunni dominated formations,[13] with the officers sent from the division relying on the division's fearsome reputation to keep soldiers in line.
Both the division as a whole and its component parts have been accused of engaging in human rights abuses during the Syrian uprising, such as arbitrary arrests and beatings, and the shooting of unarmed protesters.[14] Their use by the Syrian regime in the uprising has led to many of the division's commanders being subject to EU sanctions and travel bans.
A July 2013 report by a pro-government websites stated that Maher al-Assad had been commanding troops in the Aleppo and Homs theatre of operations.[15]
Later on, there were reports of their control over international border crossings, such as Nasib Border Crossing and other illegal border crossings between Lebanon and Syria, which are used as financial sources to cover their expenses.[16]
Drug trade
The New York Times reported in December 2021 that the 4th Armoured Division oversees much of the production and distribution of Captagon, among other drugs. The unit controls manufacturing facilities, packing plants, and smuggling networks all across Syria (which have started to also move crystal meth). The division's security bureau, headed by Maj. Gen. Ghassan Bilal, provides protection for factories and along smuggling routes to the port city Latakia and to border crossings with Jordan and Lebanon.[17]
^"Syrian rebel leader to Haaretz: Assad's opposition will secure chemical weapons". Haaretz. 28 May 2012.
^"Kofi Annan's plan is destined to fail". CNN. 27 March 2012.
^"Syria's army holds the key to Assad regime's future". Channel 4 News. 13 June 2011.
^. AlertNet. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
^. Sify News. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
^ ab"Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011".
^"Consolidated list of financial targets in the UK".
^Holliday, Joseph (February 2013). "The Syrian Army Doctrinal Order of Battle" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War.
^Campbell, Kirk S. (31 January 2009). (PDF) (Thesis). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
^"In unending turmoil, Syria's Assad turns to family". The Guardian. London. 23 January 2008.
^"'The enforcer' who heads Syria's dreaded army division". France 24. March 2012.
^"Syrian rebel leader to Haaretz: Assad's opposition will secure chemical weapons". Haaretz.com. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
^"Army defectors are operating clandestinely in Damascus". Al Jazeera English.
^"Appendix 1: Structure and Command of Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies". Human Rights Watch. 15 December 2011.
^. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
^"Nassib Crossing: Disputes over control and search for illegal financial returns". enabbaladi.net. 4 April 2020.
^Hubbar d, Ben; Saad, Hwaida (5 December 2021). "On Syria's Ruins, a Drug Empire Flourishes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via NYTimes.com.
armoured, division, syria, armoured, division, arabic, الفرقة, الرابعة, romanized, firqa, rābiʿah, elite, formation, syrian, army, whose, primary, purpose, defend, syrian, government, from, internal, external, threats, armoured, divisionالفرقة, الرابعةdivision. The 4th Armoured Division Arabic الفرقة الرابعة romanized al Firqa ar Rabiʿah is an elite formation of the Syrian Army whose primary purpose is to defend the Syrian government from internal and external threats 4th Armoured Divisionالفرقة الرابعةDivisional tactical color marking Active1984 presentCountry SyriaAllegianceSyrian GovernmentBranchSyrian ArmyTypeArmoured divisionRoleShock troopsSize 14 000 2012 1 2 Garrison HQDamascusEquipmentT 72 tanksSAMsMil Mi 24EngagementsSyrian Civil WarSiege of Daraa Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh Siege of Jisr al Shughur 3 Siege of Baniyas Idlib Governorate clashes Siege of Homs 4 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 2018 Northwestern Syria offensive April August 2019 Northwestern Syria offensive December 2019 March 2020 CommandersCurrent CommanderAli Badran de facto 5 Maj Gen Mohamed Ali Durgham de jure Reserve Bureau CommanderGen Ghassan Belal 6 Brigade CommandersMaher al Assad 42nd Brigade Brig Gen Jawdat Ibrahim Safi 154th Regiment Brig Gen Jamal Yunes 555th Regiment 7 Hayel al Assad Military Police Commander 6 Kifah Moulhem Contents 1 History 1 1 Syrian civil war 1 2 Drug trade 2 Battle order 3 ReferencesHistory EditThe 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 9 The Division is regarded by some as the best trained and best equipped of the Syrian Army 10 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 11 About 80 percent of the division s soldiers and officers are Alawites and nearly 90 percent of them are career soldiers in contrast to the conscripts who comprise most of the army s other units 12 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 Syrian civil war Edit Main article Syrian civil war During the uprising phase of the Syrian civil war the 4th Armoured Division played a key role in attempting to put down uprisings being sent to quell protests in the southern city of Daraa the coastal city of Baniyas the central province of Homs and the northern province of Idlib Alawite officers from the 4th Armoured Division have been sent to other formations within the Syrian army in an attempt by the government to keep a closer eye and firmer grip on many Sunni dominated formations 13 with the officers sent from the division relying on the division s fearsome reputation to keep soldiers in line Both the division as a whole and its component parts have been accused of engaging in human rights abuses during the Syrian uprising such as arbitrary arrests and beatings and the shooting of unarmed protesters 14 Their use by the Syrian regime in the uprising has led to many of the division s commanders being subject to EU sanctions and travel bans Coordinates 33 22 1 91 N 36 18 29 22 E 33 3671972 N 36 3081167 E 33 3671972 36 3081167A July 2013 report by a pro government websites stated that Maher al Assad had been commanding troops in the Aleppo and Homs theatre of operations 15 Later on there were reports of their control over international border crossings such as Nasib Border Crossing and other illegal border crossings between Lebanon and Syria which are used as financial sources to cover their expenses 16 Drug trade Edit The New York Times reported in December 2021 that the 4th Armoured Division oversees much of the production and distribution of Captagon among other drugs The unit controls manufacturing facilities packing plants and smuggling networks all across Syria which have started to also move crystal meth The division s security bureau headed by Maj Gen Ghassan Bilal provides protection for factories and along smuggling routes to the port city Latakia and to border crossings with Jordan and Lebanon 17 Battle order Edit 4th Armoured Division Shoulder Markings 40th Armored Brigade 41st Armored Brigade 42nd Armored Brigade 138th Mechanized Brigade 154th Artillery Regiment 63rd Artillery Regiment 555th Special Forces Regiment Airborne Protective Lions Commandos formed in May 2014 National Shield Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba Syrian wing 18 References Edit Syrian rebel leader to Haaretz Assad s opposition will secure chemical weapons Haaretz 28 May 2012 Kofi Annan s plan is destined to fail CNN 27 March 2012 Syria s army holds the key to Assad regime s future Channel 4 News 13 June 2011 Elite Syrian troops sent to embattled Homs AlertNet Archived from the original on 2 March 2012 Retrieved 2 March 2012 US imposes sanctions against Syria s intelligence service officials Sify News Archived from the original on 9 April 2014 a b Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation EU No 442 2011 Consolidated list of financial targets in the UK Holliday Joseph February 2013 The Syrian Army Doctrinal Order of Battle PDF Institute for the Study of War Campbell Kirk S 31 January 2009 Civil Military Relations and Political Liberalization A Comparative Study of the Military s Corporateness and Political Values in Egypt Syria Turkey and Pakistan PDF Thesis Archived from the original PDF on 8 March 2012 Retrieved 10 February 2012 In unending turmoil Syria s Assad turns to family The Guardian London 23 January 2008 The enforcer who heads Syria s dreaded army division France 24 March 2012 Syrian rebel leader to Haaretz Assad s opposition will secure chemical weapons Haaretz com 28 May 2012 Retrieved 5 November 2014 Army defectors are operating clandestinely in Damascus Al Jazeera English Appendix 1 Structure and Command of Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies Human Rights Watch 15 December 2011 Account Suspended Archived from the original on 15 May 2015 Retrieved 5 November 2014 Nassib Crossing Disputes over control and search for illegal financial returns enabbaladi net 4 April 2020 Hubbar d Ben Saad Hwaida 5 December 2021 On Syria s Ruins a Drug Empire Flourishes The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 8 December 2021 via NYTimes com Harakat al Nujaba Interview Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 4th Armoured Division Syria amp oldid 1088210222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
