118th Division (Syria)

Last updated
118th Division
Emblem of Syria (2025-present).svg
Active2025 – present
CountryFlag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria
Allegiance Syrian Armed Forces
Branch Syrian Army
Type Armoured
RoleArmoured warfare in desert regions
Garrison/HQ Palmyra, Syrian Desert
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigadier General Raed al-Arab

The 118th Division is an armoured division of the Syrian Army established in February 2025 as part of the post-Assad military reorganization, under the Syrian transitional government. Assigned to the Syrian Desert (Badia) region, the division primarily operates in the area around Palmyra and supports security and counter-insurgency operations in eastern Syria. As of March 2025, the 118th Division was deployed to secure eastern sectors, contributing to the new government's efforts to stabilize post-Assad Syria. [1]

Contents

History

The 118th Division was established during the transitional period after the fall of the Assad regime, as part of a broader effort by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led transitional administration to integrate former rebel factions into a unified national army under the Ministry of Defense. [2] In late January 2025, HTS issued a call for armed groups, including those from the National Liberation Front (NLF), to dissolve and merge into new divisional structures modeled on pre-2011 Syrian Arab Army formations. [3]

The division drew its initial cadre from NLF-affiliated units, which had previously operated semi-autonomously under HTS command in Idlib since 2018–2019, as well as elements from the Liberation and Construction Movement, a Turkish-backed faction active in northern Syria. By March 2025, the 118th Division was fully operational and assigned to the Badia sector, focusing on securing desert routes and combating remnants of ISIS and pro-Assad militias. [4]

Reports of the division's activities peaked in March–April 2025, with deployments to stabilize the Palmyra region, but diminished thereafter, leading to speculation of a merger with the nearby 42nd Division, though this remains unconfirmed. [5] As of October 2025, the division continues to form part of the restructured Syrian Army, which aims to reach 200,000 personnel, with two-thirds of senior commanders holding HTS backgrounds.

Structure

The 118th Division is organized as an armoured formation, emphasizing mobility for desert operations, and includes specialized battalions for reconnaissance and rapid response. Key subunits include:

The division's exact order of battle is not publicly detailed, but it integrates legacy equipment from former rebel stockpiles and HTS supplies, including tanks and armoured personnel carriers. [6] [7]

Commanders

Other senior officers:

References

  1. ↑ "Iran Update, March 7, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  2. ↑ "The New Syrian Army: Structure and Commanders". Syria Revisited. 2025-03-28. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  3. ↑ "The New Syrian Army- Senior Officials with Jihadist Background". Alma Research and Education Center. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  4. ↑ "SYRIA. Israeli attack on Palmyra: strategic move and political warning". AGCNews. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  5. 1 2 Shapira, Boaz (July 2025). "Special Report: The New Syrian Army" (PDF). Alma Research and Education Center. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Syria's New Rulers Are Working To Unify Military Power". New Lines Magazine. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  7. ↑ "Iran Update, March 8, 2025". Institute for the Study of War . 8 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
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