The Syrian Arab Army’s Special Forces unit known as the “Tiger Forces” has announced their deployment from Jabal Al-Sha’ar in east Homs to the Idlib Governorate, where they will assist the National Defense Forces (NDF) in reestablishing full control over the provincial capital.
While it is not clear how many men the Tiger Forces are committing to this alleged counter-offensive, a number of soldiers from this elite unit have posted pictures on their social media accounts with their commander Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan posing with his comrades.
According to a number of Syrian Army social media accounts, the counter-attack on Idlib City will come from the southern entrance; however, the counter-offensive has not been officially declared by the Central Command.
The NDF were originally protecting Idlib City, but were forced to withdraw from the Hawa North and Hawa West Quarters after the collapse of their frontline defenses; this led to fierce clashes at Tal Al-Mintaar south of the city.
If the counter-offensive begins, the attack will likely include the SAA’s 11th Tank Division, as the rugged terrain surrounding the city requires heavy armory, along with more disciplined contingent formations for the assault.
