Syrian Army forms new brigade to lead Golan Heights offensive

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has formed a new brigade in southwest Syria that will specifically lead the Golan Heights offensive against the jihadist rebels, a source told Al-Masdar News on Wednesday evening.

The unit is comprised of more than 1,000 soldiers from the Al-Quneitra Governorate and neighboring provinces; they will be known as the “Southern Shield Brigade.”

According to a military source, they were trained by the Russian Marines and Air Force Intelligence; they will fall directly under the command of the latter, which is different from other units in the Syrian Army.

One of their first operations will be the offensive to retake the key town of Beit Jinn, which is located at the provincial borders of Damascus and Al-Quneitra.