Syrian Army’s Tiger Forces gear up for northern Homs offensive

The Syrian Arab Army’s elite Tiger Forces were given orders on Friday to redeploy from the southern districts of Damascus to the northern countryside of the Homs Governorate.

According to a military source in Damascus, the Tiger Forces were initially given the task to liberate the Yarmouk Camp District from the Islamic State (ISIS) forces there; however, due to the Republican Guard’s success, they were not needed anymore.

With the rebels in northern Homs refusing to reconcile with the government, the Syrian military has decided to intensify their operations at this front.

While the 4th and 11th divisions have already begun an operation in nearby southern Hama, the Tiger Forces will solely concentrate on the northern Homs pocket, which includes the entire Al-Rastan Plain.

The Al-Rastan Plain has long been a stronghold for the Islamist rebels; its towns of Rastan and Talbiseh have served as the headquarters for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other militant groups.