Breaking News: Iran Prepares to Deploy 2 Army Brigades to Syria Amid Escalating Rebel Offensive.

In a stark escalation of the ongoing Syrian conflict, a high-ranking Iranian military official revealed on December 6, 2024, that Iran is preparing to send up to two army brigades to Syria within the next two weeks. The deployment comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces face a mounting crisis, with rebel forces making significant territorial gains in the country's northwest and central regions. The official, speaking anonymously, expressed grave concerns about the Syrian Arab Army (SAA)'s ability to withstand the insurgent advance without further external intervention.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

An Iranian Army brigade includes a mix of mechanized infantry, main battle tanks, and artillery units.
(Picture source: Archive image MEHR Press News Agency)

The Iranian official revealed that Tehran was blindsided by the rapid deterioration of the situation in Syria, only becoming fully aware of the critical nature of the conflict in the past few days. As a result, Iran has been urgently deploying military advisers to the frontlines to assist Syrian troops, providing coordination and direct involvement in the battle. These advisers are working closely with Syrian forces to slow the rebel offensive, which is currently threatening the regime’s grip on key cities.

Iranian army brigades typically consist of around 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, depending on their specific structure and mission. These brigades are equipped with a mix of mechanized infantry, including T-72 tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery units such as self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launch systems (MRLS). In addition to regular infantry, the brigades are supported by specialized units like air defense systems, including the S-200 and Bavar-373, to protect against aerial threats.

Logistically, these brigades can sustain extended operations, with strong supply chains for food, ammunition, and medical resources. The brigades also integrate elite forces like the Quds Force and special operations groups, which are trained for unconventional warfare, intelligence, and sabotage. These capabilities, combined with Iran’s focus on asymmetric tactics and the use of local militias like Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia groups, make Iranian brigades effective in both conventional warfare and proxy conflicts, particularly in regional hotspots such as Syria.

In a development that has shaken the Middle East, insurgent groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have made rapid territorial gains in recent days. On December 6, Syrian rebel forces entered towns to the north of Homs, the country’s third-largest city, and have quickly advanced along a highway that leads directly to Damascus, the capital. This swift advance by the insurgents marks a major shift in the conflict, as it represents the first time since 2016 that such a large swath of territory has been reclaimed by opposition forces​.

Video footage from the opposition-aligned Aleppo Today channel captured intense airstrikes targeting the town of Talbiseh, located along the critical highway between Hama and Homs, shortly after insurgents took control of the area. In response, the Syrian Ministry of Defence confirmed that both Russian and Syrian air forces had launched airstrikes on the Hama countryside to target rebel positions. Additionally, a Russian airstrike reportedly destroyed a bridge along the highway leading into Homs, further complicating the situation for government forces​

Homs, a strategically vital city located near the Lebanese border, has once again become a focal point of intense fighting. Historically, it has been a battleground where Syrian forces and their allies, including Hezbollah, fought fierce street battles with rebel groups during the early stages of the civil war. The current insurgent push to seize Homs is expected to be pivotal in their attempt to move southward towards Damascus​.

As insurgents gain ground, they have called on the residents of Homs to rise up against the Assad regime, with messages circulating online urging a popular uprising. Thousands of civilians have fled to Latakia or Damascus, seeking refuge from the violence.

The rebel forces have already gained control of Aleppo and Hama, with the rapid retreat of Syrian troops enabling insurgents to seize these key cities for the first time in years. The insurgents’ swift advance is threatening to collapse the Assad regime's hold on vital territories, including Homs, which serves as a crucial link between Damascus and the coastal heartland that includes important Russian naval bases​.

With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the Iranian military's decision to send additional forces highlights the growing role of external powers in the conflict. However, it remains to be seen whether these reinforcements can reverse the insurgents' momentum and prevent further losses. The coming days will be critical as Iran's forces arrive and the Syrian Arab Army battles to retain control over key cities that will determine the future of the Assad regime.