Special Forces of the Arab Armed Forces
Formations of special forces exist today in the armies of almost all Arab states. Like the armed forces of these countries themselves, they are relatively young, and they originate from the airborne units that began to be created in the 50s. Recently, in the armies of the Middle Eastern states there has been a tendency to increase the combat potential and capabilities of the Special Forces, primarily due to equipping them with more modern combat and special means. The quality of personnel training is constantly being improved.The experience of the combat use of Arab special forces in numerous wars and "armed conflicts in the Middle East, as well as an analysis of its actions during military exercises, says that in wartime special forces are assigned to perform complex tasks for conducting reconnaissance, assault and sabotage actions in the enemy’s rear in order to obtain information, deliver surprise attacks on enemy troops and carry out various kinds of subversive actions. tactical zone, and in the rear of the enemy.
Reconnaissance tasks include obtaining information about groupings of troops, especially armored ones, aviation and airborne, positional areas and launch positions of missile units, the location and possibility of the enemy's use of chemical and bacteriological weapons, control centers, stockpiles of weapons and materiel, enterprises for the repair and production of military equipment. The assault missions of the special forces are, first of all, in the setting up of ambushes and the laying of minefields along the paths of advancing enemy reserves, especially tanksas well as capturing and holding up to the approach of the main forces of important sections of the terrain and objects behind enemy lines. The experience of the Arab-Israeli wars shows that in some cases, the Arab command used the formation of special forces for operations as ordinary combined arms units. Sometimes this was caused by operational necessity (urgently to fill in the gaps in the defense with at least some troops), but more often - ignorance of the specifics of the use of special forces.
The sabotage tasks include the destruction of command and control points, launching sites and launchers of missiles, water supply sources, communications, warehouses, military enterprises, etc.
Arab commandos have proven themselves well in the course of hostilities, in general, successfully fulfilling the tasks set by the command and inflicting sensitive damage on the enemy. There are many bold, successful and original operations on their account.
In peacetime, in most Arab countries, special forces, while being part of the armed forces, often solve tasks not so much through the military department, as in the structures related to ensuring the security of the ruling regimes. They are actively involved in the fight against illegal armed groups, terrorist groups, are involved in suppressing riots, and are also involved in the aftermath of natural disasters and catastrophes. In some Arab states, it was army special forces that became the base when creating similar formations for other security agencies.
In general, special forces represent the elite of the armed forces of Arab countries. They are equipped with carefully selected personnel. The backbone of their command personnel are officers of the intelligence units and institutions, and the rank and file officers and sergeants are represented mostly by volunteers. One of the main requirements for special forces is a “clean” biography and unconditional loyalty to the regime and its leader in the country. Moreover, in some states, special forces are staffed only by immigrants from certain tribes or religious communities.
Even in appearance, a special forces soldier differs favorably from his army counterparts, rarely when you can meet Arab commandos or rangers in a crumpled, unsupported, soiled, and even more so torn uniforms. Higher here and the level of military discipline. Special forces are called bright, colorful names - "Sayka" ("Lightning"), "Magavir" ("Fearless"), etc.
Arab special forces units are armed with personal (RPG, assault rifles, automatic and sniper rifles, submachine guns, pistols) and group weapons (machine guns, light mortars and MLRS, portable ATGM, and recoilless guns) weapons. They are also equipped with various types of cold arms, orientation devices, subversive devices, reconnaissance equipment, compact radio stations, camouflage facilities and personal protective equipment. There are various types of vehicles at the disposal of special units - ground, air and sea. In some countries, the special forces are armed with infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and combat reconnaissance vehicles. Most of the weapons and equipment are represented by modern samples of Western, Soviet (Russian), Eastern European and Chinese production. Only Egypt and Iraq are able to produce for their special forces separate types of weapons and equipment. Training for special forces includes general and specialized training, as well as ideological processing. It is in many ways similar to the process of training similar formations in other armies. But there are a number of differences. The most characteristic of them is increased attention to working out actions in a desert area, which is associated with the natural and climatic features of most countries in the Near and Middle East. At the same time, special emphasis is placed on training military personnel in the methods of survival during a long stay in the desert without communication with the outside world. It should also be noted that in most Arab countries, the training of special forces is largely based on Western (American, British or French) methods. At the same time, in such states as Syria, Iraq, partly Egypt and Yemen, the corresponding Soviet experience is also used. Another characteristic feature of the Arab Special Forces is a very large gap in the quality of personnel training as compared with conventional army units. The difference here is much higher than, for example, in the armed forces of NATO countries.
Egypt. The first units of the airborne and special forces were established in the country in 1953 year. Egyptian special forces has a rich combat experience. He took an active part in the wars with Israel in 1956, 1967 and 1973. The brightest page stories Egyptian special forces - participation in hostilities in the October 1973 war of the year. Then the "commandos" were among the first to force the Suez Canal and capture the Israeli defensive line Barleya. According to foreign press reports, the special forces units already in the first week of fighting from ambushes on tank-dangerous areas, destroyed dozens of tanks and other enemy armored vehicles with the help of the Malyutka ATGM and the RPG-7. Unpleasant "surprises" for the Israelis were mine put "commandos" minefields. Divisions of saboteurs, including from the Navy, carried out several successful operations in the rear of the Israeli troops.
But there are in the history of the Egyptian special forces and bad examples. First of all, these are actually failed operations to free passenger planes hijacked by terrorists (1978 and 1985).
In 1990-1991 during the crisis in the Persian Gulf units of special forces were sent to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but did not actively participate in hostilities.
In the land forces of Egypt today there are six groups (regiments) "commandos". Special forces units (combat swimmers) also have a navy. Under the conditions of active activity in the country of Islamic extremists, the authorities widely attract army special forces in operations to eliminate terrorist groups and Islamist gangs. The commando units are involved in all major exercises of the Egyptian armed forces, during which joint operations with parts of the ground forces and naval forces are being worked out.
Syria. Syrian special forces originate from the first parachute company in the national armed forces formed in 1958. Special units actively participated in the Arab-Israeli wars 1967, 1973 and 1982. So, in October 1973, they conducted a bold and successful operation to capture the Israeli intelligence center and command post on Mount Hermon (Jebel Sheikh) by helicopter assault forces. According to foreign military observers, the decommissioning of this object disrupted the control of units of the Israeli armed forces in the northern part of the Golan Heights for several days. The Syrian "Magavir" and anti-tank ambushes in the rear of the enemy actively and effectively used. As a result of a daring attack on the command post of the 188 armored brigade, its commander and a number of senior staff officers were killed.
In June, 1982, during the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, the Syrian "commando". According to the foreign press, operating in the rear of the enemy, more Israeli tanks were destroyed with the help of the ATFM "Fagot" and "Milan" than tankers in tank battles.
In 1990-1991 During the crisis in the Gulf zone, one of the regiments of the special forces of the Syrian Armed Forces was in Saudi Arabia, but did not actively participate in military operations.
The land forces of the Syrian Armed Forces currently have one division (three regiments) and eight separate regiments of special forces. Most of them are part of the Syrian military contingent in Lebanon, where it performs the tasks of maintaining domestic political stability and public security. The personnel of the Syrian special forces units are overwhelmingly from the Alawite community of Lebanon. In the land forces of this country there are three regiments of special forces and one regiment of "rangers" and auxiliary units. The command considers them as a national rapid reaction force for solving security and law enforcement tasks in the republic. In addition, the Lebanese Navy in 1996, the year formed its own special forces unit. Currently, there are 100 people in it, but in the near future it is planned to increase the number of troops to 300. The main task of the naval special forces has been to combat the disease of terrorism that has been characteristic of Lebanon for many years. American and British instructors took the most active part in the creation of this unit and the training of its personnel. Part of the military was trained in the United States. According to some experts, even now Lebanese naval special forces can be considered one of the strongest units of this class in the countries of the Middle East.
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