Sergeant Rim, 20, and Chief Sergeant Samar, 21, belong to the First Women's Commando Brigade of the Republican Guard, an elite unit stationed on some of the most dangerous battlegrounds on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. The women commandos are new to the Syrian army. There are roughly 800 soldiers in these all-female commando brigades, who face determined and entrenched rebels to the east and southeast of Damascus. Her male commanding officer Captain Ziad says, "There's no difference between men and women. Some have a strong heart and deep courage, and others don't. It's not a qu