30th Division (Syria)


The 30th Division was the only elite combined forces division of the Syrian Republican Guard, established in 2017. Its main purpose was similar to other SRG units, to protect the second largest city of Syria, Aleppo, from any foreign or domestic threats.

Commanders

  • Maj. Gen. Ziad Ali Salah
  • *Deputy Commander: Maj. Gen. Zeid Salih
  • Brig. Gen. Malik Aliaa
  • *Deputy Commander: Brig. Gen. Barakat Ali Barakat
  • Maj. Gen. Barakat Ali Barakat
  • *Deputy Commander: Brig. Gen. Saleh al-Abdullah
  • Maj. Gen. Saleh al-Abdullah
  • Maj. Gen. Mohamad Saftly
  • *Deputy Commander: Maj. Gen. Nizar Yunis

Command structure

As of October 2022, according to Gregory Waters, 30th Division operated five brigades, three special forces regiments and one artillery regiment:
;30th Division

Combat history

The 30th Division was established in January 2017, following the Syrian government's regain of Aleppo city. According Kheder Khaddour, the 30th Division united Aleppo's local militias as an umbrella organization and for while retaining their independent operating structures. The Republican Guard created the new 30th Division to incorporate all its units in Aleppo under a single nominal command, and to integrate the paramilitary militias in the city into the Republican Guard organization.
The then-deputy commander of the Republican Guard and overall military commander of the 2016 Aleppo offensive, Maj. Gen. Ziad Ali Salah, was appointed in charge of the 30th Division until November 2017 with Major General Zeid Salih as his deputy. In November 2017 Brigadier General Malik Aliaa took over the command, he was later promoted as the new SRG commander. In October 2022, Major General Saleh al-Abdullah was named as a commander of the unit. By 2022, the 30th Division was rebuilt into a regular military unit composed of elite guardsmen.