Center S

Center S (Центр С in Cyrillic script) was a secret, joint, Russian–Syrian signals intelligence post near al-Harra in southwestern Syria close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.^[1]

Center C
Near Al-Harra in Syria
Tel al-Harra as seen from the Golan Heights
Site information
Type	Russian GRU signals intelligence station
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	GRU General Intelligence Directorate
Site history
In use	since before 2006, until 2014
Battles/wars	Syrian civil war
Garrison information
Garrison	Russian GRU

Presumably existing since before 2006, it was over-run by Free Syrian Army rebels on 5 October 2014 during the Daraa offensive.^[1][2] It was recaptured by the Syrian Army during the 2018 Southern Syria offensive.

Site and purpose

The Center was on the peak of Tel al-Hara mountain, adjacent to the town of al-Harra in the western part of the al-Sanamayn District of the Daraa Governorate, near the Quneitra Governorate. The Center was operated on a joint Russian-Syrian basis, with Syrian Intelligence and the OSNAZ unit of the Russian GRU monitoring signals intelligence from Syrian rebels, as well as the Israel Defense Forces.^[2][3][4][5]

Overrun and recapture

On October 5, 2014, the Center was overrun by rebels affiliated with the Free Syrian Army in the Daraa offensive. All Russian personnel had been evacuated, along with the more sensitive equipment.^[6][7] Center S was recaptured by SAA during the 2018 Southern Syria offensive.

Other centers

At least two other Russian intelligence centers are assumed to be located inside Syria.^[2]

See also

• Russian naval facility in Tartus
• Russia's role in the Syrian Civil War