30th Division (Syria)

The 30th Division (Arabic: الفرقة 30 الحرس الجمهوري) is an ellite mechanized division of the Republican Guard of Syria, established in 2017.[1][2]

30th Division
الفرقة 30 الحرس الجمهوري
Republican Guard shoulder sleeve insignia
ActiveJanuary 2017–present
Country Syria
Allegiance President of Syria
Branch Syrian Arab Army
TypeMechanized infantry
RoleShock troops
Part of Republican Guard
Garrison/HQAleppo
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Maj. Gen. Saleh Abdullah

History

The 30th Division was established in January 2017, following the Syrian Government’s regain of Aleppo city.[2] The Republican Guard created the new Division to incorporate all its units in Aleppo under a single nominal command, and to integrate the paramilitary militias in the city (already operating under the Republican Guard supervision) into the Republican Guard organization.[1]

The then-deputy commander of the Republican Guard and overall military commander of the 2016 Aleppo offensive, Major General Ziad Ali Salah, was appointed in charge of the 30th Division until November 2017[1] with Major General Zeid Salih as his deputy.[3] In November 2017 Brigadier General Malik Aliaa took over the command.[1][4] In October 2022, Major General Saleh Abdullah was named as a commander of the unit.[5]

Command structure

According Kheder Khaddour, the 30th Division functions as an umbrella organization for Aleppo’s local militias while retaining independent operating structures.[2][6] Gregory Waters acknowledged the difficulty to determine the exact structure of the 30th Division. According to Gregory Waters, it appears to operate three special forces regiments and four brigades:[1]

30th Division (2021)
  • 18th Mechanized Brigade, formerly part of the 10th Mechanized Division, was assigned to the 30th Division by 2018
  • 102nd Commando Brigade
  • 106th Mechanized Brigade
  • 123rd Special Forces Brigade (629th Battalion)
  • 124th Special Forces Brigade (872nd Battalion)
  • 93rd Special Forces Regiment
  • 147th Special Forces Regiment

See also

References
  1. Waters, Gregory (18 July 2019). "The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army's Destruction and Rebirth". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  2. Khaddour, Kheder (5 November 2018). "Syria's Troublesome Militias". Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. Al-Jabassini, Abdullah (14 May 2019). "From Insurgents to Soldiers: The Fifth Assault Corps in Daraa, Southern Syria" (PDF). European University Institute. p. 6. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. Aboufadel, Leith (27 October 2017). "Syrian Army announces new commander of elite Republican Guard unit". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. Syria - The Special Forces and the Elite Units
  6. Alami, Mona (6 March 2019). "Can Assad's Demobilization, Demilitarization, and Rehabilitation Strategy Actually Consolidate Syria's Paramilitary Forces?". www.washingtoninstitute.org. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
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