The division, formed as 7th Infantry Division, was a key component of the Syrian attack force in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, involved in some of the heaviest fighting in the Golan Heights, especially in the aptly named 'Valley of Tears'. The division, with its attached armoured brigade, lost a great number of tanks when trying on many accounts to rush the Israeli defenses. Omar Abrash was serving as the division commander.
Although Syrian division had a nominal strength of around 10,000 men, 200 tanks, 72 artillery pieces and similar numbers of SAMs and anti-aircraft guns, the 7th Infantry Division had only 80% of its tanks and APCs during the war. Furthermore, although designated as an infantry division, the division was essentially mechanised.[1]
In 1973, the division's equipment, organisation, tactics, and training were virtually identical to those of the 5th Infantry Division during its action in Jordan.[2]
Because of the extensive losses suffered by the division during the battle of the Valley of Tears, one of the division's brigades had to be pulled out of action for 3 days before being reorganized as a battalion.[3]
In August 2012, Mohamed Moussa al-Khairat, reported as the division commander, defected to Jordan.
References
^Dunstan, Simon (2003). The Yom Kippur War 1973: Golan Heights Pt.1. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 18. ISBN1-84176-220-2.
^Pollack, Kenneth M. (2002). Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948–1991. University of Nebraska Press. p. 345. ISBN0-8032-8783-6.
^Pollack, Kenneth M. (2002). Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948–1991. University of Nebraska Press. p. 491. ISBN0-8032-8783-6.
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infantry, division, syria, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, infantry, division, syria, news, newspape. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 7th Infantry Division Syria news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 7th Mechanized Division Arabic فرقة المشاة الآلية السابعة is a division of the Syrian Arab Army currently engaged in the Syrian Civil War 7th Mechanized DivisionActive1973 presentCountry SyriaAllegianceMilitary of SyriaBranch1st Corps of the Syrian ArmyTypeMechanized infantryRoleConventional warfareSizeUp to 15 000EngagementsYom Kippur War Valley of TearsSyrian Civil War Daraa offensive June 2018 CommandersNotablecommandersBrig Gen Omar AbrashHistory EditThe division formed as 7th Infantry Division was a key component of the Syrian attack force in the 1973 Yom Kippur War involved in some of the heaviest fighting in the Golan Heights especially in the aptly named Valley of Tears The division with its attached armoured brigade lost a great number of tanks when trying on many accounts to rush the Israeli defenses Omar Abrash was serving as the division commander Although Syrian division had a nominal strength of around 10 000 men 200 tanks 72 artillery pieces and similar numbers of SAMs and anti aircraft guns the 7th Infantry Division had only 80 of its tanks and APCs during the war Furthermore although designated as an infantry division the division was essentially mechanised 1 In 1973 the division s equipment organisation tactics and training were virtually identical to those of the 5th Infantry Division during its action in Jordan 2 Because of the extensive losses suffered by the division during the battle of the Valley of Tears one of the division s brigades had to be pulled out of action for 3 days before being reorganized as a battalion 3 In August 2012 Mohamed Moussa al Khairat reported as the division commander defected to Jordan References Edit Dunstan Simon 2003 The Yom Kippur War 1973 Golan Heights Pt 1 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey Publishing Ltd p 18 ISBN 1 84176 220 2 Pollack Kenneth M 2002 Arabs at War Military Effectiveness 1948 1991 University of Nebraska Press p 345 ISBN 0 8032 8783 6 Pollack Kenneth M 2002 Arabs at War Military Effectiveness 1948 1991 University of Nebraska Press p 491 ISBN 0 8032 8783 6 This Syria related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7th Infantry Division Syria amp oldid 973158416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
