Military unit
The 30th Division (Arabic: الفرقة 30 الحرس الجمهوري) is an elite mechanized division of the Republican Guard of Syria, established in 2017.[5][6] Its main purpose is similar to other SRG units, to protect the second largest city of Syria, Aleppo, from any foreign or domestic threats.[2]
Command structure
As of October 2022, according to Gregory Waters, 30th Division operates six brigades, two special forces regiments and one artillery regiment:[5][2]
- 30th Division (2022)
- 16th Storming Brigade (created in 2020)[2]
- 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[8]
- 124th Special Forces Brigade[8]
- 93rd Special Forces Regiment
- 147th Special Forces Regiment
- Artillery Regiment
Combat history
The 30th Division was established in January 2017, following the Syrian government’s regain of Aleppo city.[6] According Kheder Khaddour, the 30th Division united Aleppo’s local militias as an umbrella organization and for while retaining their independent operating structures.[6][9] 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.[5]
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[5] with Major General Zeid Salih as his deputy.[10] In November 2017 Brigadier General Malik Aliaa took over the command.[5][11] In October 2022, Major General Saleh Abdullah was named as a commander of the unit.[12] Until 2022, the 30th Division was rebuilt into a regular military unit composed of elite guardsmen.[5][2]
Syria
President of Syria
Syrian Arab Army