Saraya Ahl al-Sham
| Saraya Ahl al-Sham | |
|---|---|
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سرايا أهل الشام Company of the People of the Levant Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
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Logo of Saraya Ahl al-Sham | |
| Active | 30 September 2015 – present |
| Leaders | |
| Area of operations | Western Qalamoun Mountains/Lebanon–Syria border |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | |
Saraya Ahl al-Sham (Arabic: سرايا أهل الشام; Company of the People of the Levant) is a rebel alliance active in the Syrian Civil War. It was formed in 2015 and operates in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, mainly in the western Qalamoun Mountains along the Lebanon–Syria border.[1]
Member groups[1]
- Western Qalamoun Union
- Levant Liberation Army
- 11th Special Forces Division (formerly part of the Southern Front)
- Hold on to God Union
- Men of Qalamoun
- Strangers Brigade
- Qalamoun Shield Brigade
- Al-Nabek Martyrs’ Brigade
- Ibn Taymiyyah Brigade
- Martyr Abu Jaafar Brigade
- Martyr Ali Diyab Brigade
- United in the Love of God Brigade
- Al-Qastal Martyrs’ Brigades
- Qalamoun Liberation Brigades
History
In November 2014, Colonel Abdullah al-Rifai of the 11th Special Forces Division of the Free Syrian Army was arrested by the Lebanese Armed Forces near Arsal. He was detained by the General Directorate of General Security and released on 2 January 2015.[7] On 14 August, he was assassinated in Arsal.[8]
On 30 September 2015, Saraya Ahl al-Sham was formed by more than 13 FSA and Islamist rebel factions in the western Qalamoun Mountains. The group maintained "good" relations with al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front and other groups in the former Army of Conquest's Qalamoun branch.[1]
In February 2016, it rejected the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, remaining neutral in the conflict and stating that its only opponent is the Syrian government.[9] However, during the eastern Qalamoun offensive (September—October 2016), the group joined with the other rebels in fighting ISIL.[10]
In February 2017, negotiations between Saraya Ahl al-Sham and Hezbollah began in order to install a ceasefire and for residents to return to the contest towns and villages between Hezbollah and the rebels.[11]
On 27 May 2017, Tahrir al-Sham and Saraya Ahl al-Sham clashed with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the western Qalamoun Mountains near Arsal. 33 fighters were killed from both sides.[5]
On 27 July 2017, a ceasefire agreement was reached by Hezbollah with Tahrir al-Sham and Saraya Ahl al-Sham in the Lebanese portion of the Qalamoun Mountains. The agreement called for Tahrir al-Sham forces to withdraw from Lebanon to Idlib, Saraya Ahl al-Sham forces to withdraw to the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, where opposition forces maintain a pocket of control, and exchanges of prisoners from both sides.[12]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Syria rebels form new Qalamoun coalition". Now News. 1 October 2015.
- ↑ "Syrian Jihadists Signal Intent for Lebanon". Institute for the Study of War. 6 March 2015.
- ↑ "Shells hit Damascus area as Assad attends prayers". AP. 8 August 2013.
- ↑ "Syrian opposition regains upper hand in Qalamoun". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Widening clashes between the front and the victory of the Lebanese organization Daesh Jarod Arsal". Al Mayadeen. 27 May 2017.
- 1 2 "A fighter from the Sadik unit of Free Syrian Army’s Tahrir al Sham brigade fires his Draganov sniper rifle from inside a house during heavy fighting in Mleha suburb of Damascus". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ↑ Mohammad Nemr (22 January 2015). "FSA vows to continue fighting Hezbollah". Al-Monitor.
- ↑ "The assassination of Colonel Abdullah al-Rifai highlighted Qalmoun leaders". Al-Arabiya. 15 August 2015.
- ↑ ""Sham Liberation" Army issued a statement declaring his position of "state regulation"". Al-Souria. 4 February 2016.
- ↑ @badly_xeroxed (5 September 2016). "Sham Liberation Army report fierce battles waged against #ISIS in the past two days" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Hezbollah, rebel group discuss truce at the Lebanese border". Zaman al-Wasl. 11 February 2017.
- ↑ "HTS to leave mountain region along Syria-Lebanon border as part of truce agreement". Syria Direct. 27 July 2017.
