25th Special Mission Forces Division

25th Special Mission Forces Division
Logo of the Syrian Special Forces, used by the 25th Special Mission Forces Division
Active2013–present
CountrySyria Syrian Arab Republic
Allegiance Syrian Armed Forces
Branch Syrian Arab Army
TypeSpecial forces
RoleAir assault
Close-quarters combat
Counter-insurgency
Counter-terrorism
Direct action
Offensive
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Unconventional warfare
Urban warfare
Size12,000 soldiers (2022)[1]
Garrison/HQAleppo
Nickname(s)Tiger Forces or Quwwat Al-Nimr (Arabic: قوات النمر)
Tactical color marking
EquipmentAK-74M rifles
T-90 tanks
T-72 tanks
T-55 tanks
Rys LMV tactical vehicle
Gaz Tigr tactical vehicle
Engagements
Commanders
Current CommanderMaj. Gen. Saleh Abdullah[2][3]
Deputy Commander & Chief of StaffBrig. Gen. Yunis Muhammad[2]
Commander of Assault TroopsBrig. Gen. Yasser Ahmed
Notable
commanders
Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan[3]

The 25th Special Mission Forces Division, mostly known by their former name Tiger Forces or Quwwat al-Nimr (Arabic: قُوَّات النِّمْر), is an elite formation (special forces unit) of the Syrian Arab Army under the charge of the commander Major General Saleh Abdullah.[4] It was formed in late 2013 and functions primarily as an offensive unit in the Syrian Civil War.[5] It has been described as a "hot commodity for any government offensive", but their relatively small numbers make it difficult to deploy them to multiple fronts at once.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Waters2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mei6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Gregory Waters (12 April 2024). "Changes to Syria's special forces this week: Recently appointed Mohamad Saftly moved to command 30th SRG Division. Replaced as head of Special Forces by Suhail Hassan. Suhail replaced as head of 25th Div by former senior Tiger commander, current 30th Div commander Saleh Abdullah". Twitter. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  4. ^ Harris, William (2018). "Glossary". Quicksilver War: Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 183. ISBN 9780190874872.
  5. ^ Harris, William (2018). "Glossary". Quicksilver War: Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 183. ISBN 9780190874872.
  6. ^ Leith Fadel (10 November 2015). "Exclusive: Tiger Forces to Redeploy to Northern Hama". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.