11th Armored Division (Syria)

11th Armored Division الفرقة 11 مدرعة Syrian-11thDIV-TRF.svg Divisional tactical color marking 1982–2024 Ba'athist Syria Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg 23px Syrian Arab Armed Forces 3rd Corps Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg Syrian Arab Army Armored division Armored warfare 11,000 soldiers (2018) Homs Current Commander Maj. Gen. Muhammad Deeb Brig. Gen. Ramez Sultan (87th Brigade)Unknown #Russian officer awarding Brigadier General Ramez Sultan in late October 2022. Brigade Commanders Syrian Civil War Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011 – March 2012) Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–February 2013) Siege of Abu al-Duhur AirbaseLeith Fadel http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/idlib-al-nusra-front-launches-offensive-tal-salmo/ Idlib: The Al-Nusra Front Launches an Offensive at Tal Salmo almasdar news 15 January 2015 15 January 2015 28 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190728094513/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/idlib-al-nusra-front-launches-offensive-tal-salmo/ dead Second Siege of Wadi Deif http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrias-nusra-seizes-tanks-apcs-assads-army-1969509709 Syria's Nusra seizes tanks, APCs from Assad's army Middle East Eye December 20, 2014 December 20, 2014 2015 Idlib offensivehttp://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-army-launches-offensive-south-of-idlib-city/ Breaking: Syrian Army Launches Offensive South of Idlib City Leith Fadel Al-Masdar News 11 April 2015 12 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150712034322/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-army-launches-offensive-south-of-idlib-city/ dead Battle of Idlib (2015) Northwestern Syria offensive (April–June 2015)http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/update-from-jisr-al-shughour-fierce-clashes-at-national-hospital/ Update from Jisr Al-Shughour - Fierce Clashes at the National Hospital Leith Fadel Al-Masdar News 26 April 2015 28 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150427130232/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/update-from-jisr-al-shughour-fierce-clashes-at-national-hospital/ 27 April 2015 dead Al-Ghab offensive (July–August 2015)http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/complete-field-report-from-idlib-city-islamist-groups-fail-to-progress/ Complete Field Report from Idlib City: Islamist Groups Fail to Progress Leith Fadel Al-Masdar News 26 March 2015 26 March 2015 27 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150327132853/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/complete-field-report-from-idlib-city-islamist-groups-fail-to-progress/ dead 2016 Khanasir offensive Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2016) 2016 Hama offensive East Hama offensive (2017) Palmyra offensive (2017)https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-fully-retakes-palmyra-stunning-blitz-offensive-map-update/ ISIS fully retakes Palmyra in stunning blitz offensive – Map update Chris Tomson 11 December 2016 al-Masdar News 11 December 2016 11 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161211223337/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-fully-retakes-palmyra-stunning-blitz-offensive-map-update/ dead Hama offensive (March–April 2017) Hama offensive (September 2017)https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/graphic-18-jihadist-corpses-litter-northern-hama-battlefield-video/ [Graphic 18+] Jihadist corpses litter northern Hama battlefield – video Leith Fadel al-Masdar News 24 September 2017 24 September 2017 12 June 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190612123215/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/graphic-18-jihadist-corpses-litter-northern-hama-battlefield-video/ dead Operation Dawn of Idlib Lt. Gen. Ali al-Hussain 11th Armored Division (ar الفرقة 11 مدرعة) was an elite formation of the Syrian Army.https://www.mei.edu/publications/lion-and-eagle-syrian-arab-armys-destruction-and-rebirth#pt9 The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army’s Destruction and Rebirth Middle East Institute Gregory Waters 18 July 2019 20 September 2022 In 2019, the 11th Armored Division participated in the Operation Dawn of Idlib.https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/large-number-of-syrian-soldiers-deployed-to-al-ghaab-plain-offensive-to-begin-soon/ Large number of Syrian soldiers deployed to Al-Ghaab Plain, offensive to begin soon 2019-07-17 Al-Masdar News المصدر نيوز en-US 2019-07-18 18 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190718080049/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/large-number-of-syrian-soldiers-deployed-to-al-ghaab-plain-offensive-to-begin-soon/ dead The division was established in 1982 and was part of the 3rd Army Corps. Command structure 11th Armored Division (2019) 60th Armored Brigade 67th Armored Brigade 87th Mechanized Brigadehttp://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/02/20/735911/story.html Syrian commandos begin long campaign to Jisr Al-Shughour 20 February 2016 24 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160430201539/http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/02/20/735911/story.html 2016-04-30 live 89th Artillery Regiment 135th Artillery RegimentCooper 2015 18 Source:https://www.hrw.org/node/103558/section/12 Appendix 1: Structure and Command of Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies Human Rights Watch 15 December 2011 Waters Gregory 12 May 2020 Current Syrian Army Deployments https://international-review.org/current-syrian-army-deployments/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230130052549/https://international-review.org/current-syrian-army-deployments/ 30 January 2023 17 October 2023 International Review Combat history In 1982, after the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Southern Lebanon between the Syrian and Israeli forces, Syrians captured 11 Israeli M48 Patton tanks. For that, late Commander in Chief President of Syria Hafez al-Assad instructed the establishment of a new armored division, with the number designation 11. Syrian Civil War The 11th Armored Division is part of 3rd Army Corps, as it was a reserve armored division and one of the best armored divisions of the Syrian Army. It was placed in active duty during the crisis.https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jund-al-aqsa-sets-sight-alawi-town-northern-hama/ Jund Al-Aqsa sets its sight on Alawi town in northern Hama Leith Fadel 31 August 2016 al-Masdar 31 August 2016 24 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190224010806/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jund-al-aqsa-sets-sight-alawi-town-northern-hama/ dead The 11th Armored Division first took part in combat operations from autumn 2011 to spring 2012, when it was part of the Army's offensive in Idlib Governorate. Until then, several units of the division took part in the most complex Siege of Abu al-Duhur Airbase between 2012 and 2015, where the army eventually suffered heavy losses and defeat. In 2015, the division took part in the spring and autumn campaign, which ended with the defeat of the army forces and the loss of the city and province of Idlib, the Al-Ghab Plains and part of the province of Hama In 2016, the division led the Syrian Army's counter offensive in Hama., which featured the participation of the division's 87th Mechanized Brigade and 47th Regiment.https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-fights-back-northern-hama-two-hilltops-recaptured/ Syrian Army fights back in northern Hama, two hilltops recaptured Leith Fadel 5 September 2016 Al-Masdar News 5 September 2016 24 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190224015510/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-fights-back-northern-hama-two-hilltops-recaptured/ dead During the operation, the unit lost its commander Brig. Gen. Ali Khalloufhttp://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=50120 The Brigadier General Ali Khallouf, the former commander of Wadi al-Deif camp is killed in the battels of Hama's countryside SOHR 1 September 2016 and Maj. Gen. Ali Sharaf Makhlouf, commander of 87th Brigade.https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/southfront-islamist-rebels-move-towards-hamas-provincial-capital/ SouthFront: Islamist rebels on the move towards Hama's provincial capital Chris Tomson 2 September 2016 Al-Masdar News 3 September 2016 24 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190224012227/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/southfront-islamist-rebels-move-towards-hamas-provincial-capital/ dead In 2017, the division took part of two government offensives, during which the Army recaptured all lost territory in previous years. Units of the 87th Brigade have held the highly contested Suran-Masasneh axis since 2016. Several members of the 87th Brigade died in a March 3, 2019 raid on a checkpoint there.https://international-review.org/understanding-syrias-military-deployments-in-idlib/ Understanding Syria's Military Deployments in Idlib 12 March 2019 22 March 2023 Gregory Waters International Review Meanwhile, the 60th and 67th Brigades and the 135th Regiment have mostly fought on the eastern edges of the Homs Governorate, particularly around Palmyra as well as throughout Deir ez-Zor. Since 2019, the 11th Division has been reorganized with Russian help and supervision.https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/35677 The Syrian Phoenix is Arising 14 September 2018 References Works cited Tom Cooper Syrian Conflagration: The Civil War 2011-2013 Middle East@War Volume 1 Helion & Co. 978-1-910294-10-9 2015 Category:Infantry divisions of Syria Category:Homs Governorate Category:Hama Governorate Category:Idlib Governorate Category:Military units and formations established in 1982 Category:Armoured divisions of Syria Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2024