Who freed the Sarakibe

Media reported that videoconferencing Russia helped the Syrians to retake the strategically important city of Sarakibe, abandoned by government forces at the end of last week. The operation for the liberation of Sarakibe held unit "Tigers" of the Shia "Hezbollah" and reserve units of the National guard.

Who freed the Sarakibe

"Tigers" inertia is called the 25th division special purpose – the elite tactical units of the Syrian Arab armed forces (savs, CAA), specializing in offensive operations. Earlier this formation was called a "tiger Force" in its composition was another team – "power of the Cheetah" and "Cheetah".

High-profile names confirmed successful offensive operations, for which the "Tigers" even called invincible. Last year (in fact, police militia) tried to infuse the composition of the Syrian Arab army (SAA) and was awarded the status of a special division. Actually, the power of "Tigers" (4,000 soldiers) pull on a good team. The inflated status of the division was the recognition of military merit of the militia.
However, the Tigers refused the offer to join the CAA. Did not want to lose organizational and financial independence, because the salary in the militia two times higher than in the army (financed by a formation known in Syria, the investor Rami Makhlouf – a cousin of President Assad). Called the division "Tigers" fighting is still good. The release of Sarakibe – another proof.

National guard, took part in the operation to liberate the city, also stands apart in the Syrian armed forces. Elite troops intended for the protection of the Syrian government and maintain security in Central Damascus.

During the war they expanded to the full extent of the division, supplemented by two armored and mechanized brigades, regiments, special forces and special forces. They are used in critical sectors of the front, which became the retreat of the Sarakibe, again, had partially severed the strategic highway Damascus – Hama – Aleppo. According to experts, the reserves of the National guard played in the liberation of the city a decisive role.

Impact force Bashar al-Assad

Still the main striking force of Bashar al-Assad stays, the Syrian Arab army. Her badly battered by the war. Suffice it to say that in parts is almost gone light armored vehicles pre-war state. Serious losses of personnel. It is formed by conscription. Therefore, the units formed by a combination of soldiers with combat experience, and recruits.

Not always this Union helps good luck. The sarakibe, for example, left because of the casual approach to the mission. According to observers, the units did not gain a foothold on the first line of the turn – to dig trenches, to carry out other protective measures. So easy was swept away by the fire of the Turkish artillery and the shock drones.
Also mediocre were lost are left without proper shelter and protection of air defense systems and tanks.
Media reports that the Russian military advisers managed to restore the Syrian army in relative order. The result of their work was including the release of Sarakibe.

Today in the Arsenal of the SAA several hundred tanks (mostly Soviet-built), cannon and rocket artillery, heavy flamethrower system. About 100 thousand soldiers initially combined into five army corps and two separate tank and mechanized divisions.
Support the army more than two dozen attack helicopters and about 80 aircraft. Before the attack on Idlib this force greatly exceeded the established in the province of the terrorist group. So it was, until it is not interfered with Turkish military.

They used in Idlib electronic warfare, strike and reconnaissance drones with the target designation for artillery-range. With the enemy Syrian army clashed for the first time. Hence her apparent failure. To the new conditions of war have to adapt. The return of Sarakibe, the Syrian army has shown that it is able to cope with this task.

For your home and the shelter

Will Help the army National defence force. They came when Bashar al-Assad failed a General mobilization. It was in the midst of war with terrorists of the banned in Russia "Islamic state". As he wrote then, war correspondents in the suburbs of Damascus, there was fighting with government forces, Islamist militants, and in the capital's coffeehouses were the men of mobilization age, are not disposed to respond to the call of the President to protect Syria.

Then Bashar Assad initiated the creation of volunteer paramilitary groups on ethnic, religious and territorial principle. Here he found support because it was primarily about protecting the houses and settlements of the militia.

With the release of war of the Bedouin tribes, the liberation of the territories of residence of the Druze, Armenians, Palestinians, Christians, Alawite national defence force has grown to 110 thousand soldiers and strengthen the military position of the Syrian government.
Now groups of volunteers are used as backup for critical areas, although the main purpose of these forces and territorial defense. In the battle for the Sarakibe, for example, local militia took part in the sweep freed settlements from the remnants of terrorist groups.

The examples show thatof the Syrian government forces today have the capacity to destroy the last pockets of terrorism in its territory. Only now the second largest NATO army – Turkish, defended the Islamic militants, they are without the help can not win.