| 14th Special Forces Division | |
|---|---|
| فرقة القوات الخاصة الرابعة عشرة | |
 Syrian Special Forces Patch | |
| Active | 1968 – 2024 |
| Country |  Ba'athist Syria  |
| Allegiance |  Syrian Arab Armed Forces |
| Branch |  Syrian Arab Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Close-quarters combat Counter-insurgency Counter-terrorism Direct action Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Unconventional warfare Urban warfare |
| Size | 3 regiments |
| Part of | 2nd Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Damascus |
| Tactical color marking |  |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Maj. Gen. Ali Asaad |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen.Ali Haydar Maj. Gen.Bassel al-Assad Maj. Gen.Ali Habib Mahmud Maj. Gen. Mufid Hassan[3] Maj. Gen. Fuad Masaoud[4] |
The14th Special Forces Division (Arabic:فرقة القوات الخاصة الرابعة عشرة) was a division of theSyrian Armed Forces specializing inlight infantry operations.[5] The Division was part of theSyrian Army's2nd Corps.
Syrians used the term "Special Forces" to describe the 14th,15th divisions, as well as the independent 'special forces' regiments, but they more closely resembled conventional light infantry units thanWesternSpecial Forces in both mission and composition.
The term "Special Forces" was applied ostensibly because of their specialized training inairborne andair assaultoperations, but they were regarded as light infantry forces and elite only in relation to theconventional armored and mechanized brigades of theSyrian Army.[6]
The 14th Special Forces Division was established to command three Special Forces Regiments after the mid 1990s restructuring ofAli Haydar’s consolidated Special Forces Command.[8]
Haydar's Special Forces expanded in size to 25,000 men, and formed a key part of the Syrian government's security apparatus. The Special Forces were trained inairborne operations, and were rivaled on power only by theDefense Companies controlled by Hafez's brother,Rifaat. As such, the 14th Division became a strong counter-weight to the Defense Companies, as both these formations were largelyairborne divisions.
New members were traditionally recruited from theAlawite sect to ensure loyalty to the government. Intelligence sources state it is likely that such units were involved in crushing popular dissent and neutralizing ringleaders.[9]
Under the command of Ali Haidar, the Special Forces units were deployed to Lebanon as part of theSyrian intervention in theLebanese Civil War. It provided support toKamal Jumblatt and in some cases cooperating with theLebanese National Movement andLebanese National Resistance Front. During the war they engaged withPLO units under the command ofYasser Arafat.[10]
The government committed much of the 14th Special Forces Division to the assault ofHoms, in which it fought some of the strongest rebel positions of Homs’ southwestBaba Amr,Inshaat, and Jobar neighborhoods.[11]
Opposition reports specifically cited activity from the 556th Special Forces Regiment, but most frequently cited the 14th Special Forces Division generally. Activity was reported in different parts of the city during similar time-frames, suggesting that at least one additional regiment from the 14th Special Forces was involved in theoperation of recapturing Homs.
Since 2019, it was reorganized and rebuild with new graduates of the military academies.[12] The old battalions and brigades were destroyed, and had to be rebuilt from scratch.[13]