In 1982, after the
Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Southern Lebanon between the Syrian and Israeli forces, Syrians captured 11 Israeli
M48 Patton tanks. For that, late Commander in Chief
President of Syria Hafez al-Assad instructed the establishment of a new armored division, with the number designation 11.
Syrian Civil War The 11th Armored Division is part of 3rd Army Corps, as it was a reserve armored division and one of the best armored divisions of the Syrian Army. It was placed in active duty during the
crisis. The 11th Armored Division first took part in combat operations from autumn 2011 to spring 2012, when it was part of the Army's offensive in
Idlib Governorate. Until then, several units of the division took part in the most complex
Siege of Abu al-Duhur Airbase between 2012 and 2015, where the army eventually suffered heavy losses and defeat. During the operation, the unit lost its commander Brig. Gen. Ali Khallouf and Maj. Gen. Ali Sharaf Makhlouf, commander of 87th Brigade. In 2017, the division took part of two government offensives, during which the Army recaptured all lost territory in previous years. Units of the 87th Brigade have held the highly contested
Suran-
Masasneh axis since 2016. Meanwhile, the 60th and 67th Brigades and the 135th Regiment have mostly fought on the eastern edges of the
Homs Governorate, particularly around
Palmyra as well as throughout
Deir ez-Zor. ==References==