They even had to grow a lot of their own food inside the base. Wave after wave of suicide trucks sent at them, constant barrages of mortar, rockets and artillery, snipers , human wave assaults . For three years almost, cut off from escape or reinforcement, medical help . With literal proper barbarians surrounding them on all sides , who almost broke through a number of times . Unbelievable what they went through . And most of them just raw recruits, cadets training to service planes and helicopters. Not even an actual combat trained force .
That Syrian operation to break through heavily fortified and mined daesh lines into deeply held Daesh territory and rescue them was in itself another massive feat . A huge morale boost to the Syrian armed forces . No doubt about it these guys are national heroes for what they endured and triumphed over . Doubt Hollywood will be making any films about this though .