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Border Guard Forces (Syria)

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Border Guard Forces
الفرقة المدرعة الثامنة عشر
Active1946 – 2024
Country Syria
Branch Syrian Arab Army
TypeBrigade
RoleBorder Guard
Size10,000 soldiers (2019)[1]
Part of3rd Corps
Garrison/HQHoms
Nickname(s)"Syrian Haganah"
Motto(s)Martyrdom is the way to victory (Arabic: الاستشهاد هو الطريق إلى النصر)
Engagements
Commanders
Current CommanderMaj. Gen. Ghassan Mahmoud Nasour[3]
Chief of StaffMaj. Gen. Muhammad Issa[4]

The Border Guard Forces (Arabic: الفرقة المدرعة الثامنة عشر) was a gendarmerie force of the Syrian Army responsible for guarding the borders of Syria (mainly in the east of the country) and important strategic facilities. The Syrian Border Guard was in the size of an enlarged unit containing seven regiments which were deployed in different centers in Syria, the brigade was under the command of the 3rd Corps.[5]

Command structure

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Border Guard Forces (2021)[5]

Combat history

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The Border Guard Forces began its existence during the French Mandate in Syria under the name "Desert Guard", before 1946.[8] After the independence, its main work was preventing smuggling along the borders, preventing the infiltration of hostile forces, maintaining order in areas far from the centers of government and maintaining important strategic objectives such as Euphrates Dam, oil wells and power plants.

Role in the Civil war

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Over the years, the Syrian Border Guard did not engage in combat as a regular fighting force, but maintained its status as a regional police force. Even during the Civil War in Syria, the Border Guard functioned as a police force mainly in the east of the country.[5]

As of 2019, the Border Guard Force includes seven regiments deployed along the borders of Syria, each regiment is responsible for a sector and its units are stationed throughout the positions and facilities. In their work, border guards use light and medium weapons in addition to armored vehicles to monitor and protect land borders.[9] Since 2019, the Border Guard also incorporated many reconciled civilians or ex-rebels.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Gregory Waters (25 September 2019). "The force numbered ~10k in the mid-2000's (following an increase in size & funding due to the Iraq war)". Twitter. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ Leith Fadel (14 May 2015). "ISIS Launches an Offensive at the Ancient City of Palmyra in East Homs". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  3. ^ Gregory Waters (15 September 2021). "Maj Gen Ghassan Mahmoud Nasour now the commander of the Syrian Border Guards". Twitter. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ Brig.-Gen Mohammed Issa as chief of staff of the Border Guard.
  5. ^ a b c Gregory Waters (25 September 2019). "Syria's Border Guards: From Auxiliary to Frontlines". Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  6. ^ Gregory Waters (20 November 2019). "Return to the northeast: Syrian Army deployments against Turkish forces". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ Gregory Waters (10 July 2020). "Jul 9 - 3 members of the 75th Battalion/10th Border Guard Regiment are killed near Maizilah NW of Boukamal Deir EzZor. The unit had arrived there on May 12". Twitter. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  8. ^ Syrian Modern History
  9. ^ Gregory Waters (11 October 2019). "This is an interesting point, as I've almost never seen Border Guards equipped with anything other than technicals". Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  10. ^ Gregory Waters (5 February 2023). "Core forces in Latakia frontline are Border Guards 11th Regiment, 2nd Division & 6th Division (though 6th is more centered around al-Ghab)". Twitter. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ Gregory Waters (18 December 2019). "Other ex-rebels from East Ghouta have joined the Border Guards, 8th, 10th & 11th Divs". Twitter. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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