17th Division (Syria)

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17th Reserve Division

Syrian Armed Forces Flag
Active Unknown – present
Country  Syria
Allegiance Syrian Government
Branch Syrian Army
Role Mechanized
Size ~ 8,500
Garrison/HQ Raqqa
Engagements

Syrian Civil War

 
17th Armoured Division (February 2013)
Components
  • 137th Mechanized Brigade
  • 93rd Armoured Brigade
  • (an unspecified) Artillery Regiment
  • (an unspecified) Brigade

The 17th Reserve Division is a formation of the Syrian Army responsible for Eastern Syria.

Structure

The Division is independent on the Syrian Army's Corps structure,[1] and is composed of 137th Mechanized Brigade, the 93rd Armoured Brigade, another unknown Brigade, and an unknown Artillery Regiment.[2]

The Division is one of the Syrian Army's 5 Specialised Divisions, which unlike the Army's conventional Divisions include both brigades and maneuver regiments.[3]

History

Role in the civil war

Main article: Syrian civil war

The 17th Reserve Division was active in Deir ez-Zor province throughout 2012. The division's 93rd Brigade left Idlib to secure Al-Raqqah Governorate in early 2012.[4]

In November 2012 the Free Syrian Army claimed that elements of the 17th Division were in Rastan, thereby raising the possibility that elements of the Division withdrew from the east as the Syrian Government lost positions there.[5]

Following the reported capture of Raqqa on 3-6 March 2013, elements of the 17th Division remained under siege to the north of the city in October 2013.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Joseph Halliday, The Syrian Army: Doctrinal Order of Battle, Institute for the Study of War, February 2013, p.10
  2. ↑ Joseph Halliday, The Syrian Army: Doctrinal Order of Battle, Institute for the Study of War, February 2013, p.12
  3. ↑ Joseph Halliday, The Syrian Army: Doctrinal Order of Battle, Institute for the Study of War, February 2013, p.6
  4. ↑ Joseph Halliday, The Assad Regime: From Counterinsurgency to Civil War, Institute for the Study of War, March 2013, p.33, citing '“Clashes between Syrian troops and army defectors kill at least 13,” Washington Post, October 13, 2011; Syrian Revolution Coordinator’s Union Facebook Page <facebook.com/monasiqoon>, November 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ Joseph Halliday, The Assad Regime: From Counterinsurgency to Civil War, Institute for the Study of War, March 2013, p.33
  6. ↑ Alice Martins, Watching Rebels Fight Among Themselves for the City of Raqqa, SyriaDeeply.org Beta, October 2, 2013.
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