List of armed groups in the Syrian civil war

This is a list of armed groups in the Syrian civil war.

Main confict (2011-present)
Note:
 * The United States, the United Kingdom and France allegedly attempt to avoid providing military support to groups with allegiance to al-Qaeda or who subscribe to jihadist ideology. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however, support the rebels and jihadists.
 * Al-Qaeda in this conflict usually refers to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (which is a direct branch of al-Qaeda) and the Al-Nusra Front (which has sworn allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda).
 * None of the rebel groups are known to be at war with other rebel groups - except for the Kurdish rebels, which are at war with the main opposition. Members of the People's Protection Units have occasionally coordinated with the Free Syrian Army. However, there have been clashes between some groups. Ghuraba al-Sham (moderate) has clashed with Al-Nusra Front and Al-Tawhid Brigade of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has clashed with the Free Syrian Army. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has fought the Nusra Front. Members of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union have on occasion clashed with the People's Protection Units.
 * The Free Syrian Army is often an umbrella term, meaning many sub-groups claim to be part of a larger group (such as the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front) as well as part of the Free Syrian Army.
 * It is estimated that there are 100,000 rebel fighters. The Islamic coalition estimates that its forces represent 75% of the rebels.
 * The Kurdish National Council has joined the Syrian National Coalition —though without officially committing any military forces to the opposition— while simultaneously retaining its membership in the Kurdish Supreme Council alongside the PYD.

Spillover in Lebanon (2011-present)
See: Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon, Lebanese–Syrian border clashes and Battle of Sidon (2013)

Turkish clashes (2011-2013)
See: 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes, 2013 Reyhanlı bombings and June 2012 interception of Turkish aircraft

Spillover in the Golan Heights and alleged Israeli airstrikes (2012-present)
See: Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–present), January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike, May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes and July 2013 Latakia explosion

Spillover in Jordan (2012)
''See: October 2012 Jordanian–Syrian border clash

Spillover in Iraq (2013)
See: Akashat ambush and Operation al-Shabah

Sub-groups
Location and strength in brackets

Shabiha branches
Shabiha
 * Al-Berri clan
 * Muqawama Suriya or Syrian Resistance (2,000)

Free Syrian Army branches
Note: The Free Syrian Army is an umbrella term, consisting mostly of groups that have allegiance to the Syrian National Council. This list contains only groups that have only claimed to be part of the Free Syrian Army. If they have allegiance to another group, as well as being in the Free Syrian Army, they are listed in the other group's branches. Free Syrian Army
 * Syrian Martyrs' Brigade (Idlib province) (7,000-12,000)
 * Syrian Turkmen Brigades (10,000)
 * National Unity Brigades (Kataib al-Wihda al-Wataniya) (2,000)
 * Abdel Rahman Al Shabandar Brigade
 * Martyrs of the Syrian Revolution brigade
 * Joul Jamal Brigade
 * Martyrs of Badama Brigade
 * Martyrs of the Wastani Mountains Brigade
 * Ahmad Maryoud Brigade
 * Youssef Al-Admeh Brigade
 * Tamer Al-Awam Brigade
 * Ammar bin Yassir battalion (Idlib province)
 * Hamzah Al-Khateeb battalion (Idlib city)
 * Al-Furqan battalion (Idlib province)
 * Harmoush battalion (Idlib province)
 * Martyrs Ma'arat Nu'man battalion (Idlib province)
 * Shield of Islam battalion (Idlib province)
 * Salaheddine Al-Ayoubi battalion (Jisr ash-Shugur)
 * Qashoush battalion (Hama city)
 * Aboul Fidaa battalion (Hama province)
 * Saad Bin Moaz battalion (Hama province)
 * Al Nasser Brigades
 * Ziaab al-Ghab Brigade
 * Ahrar Souriya (Free Men of Syria) Brigade
 * Moawiyah Bin Abi Sufian (Damascus city)
 * Houriyeh battalion (Aleppo city)
 * Ababeel battalion (Aleppo province)
 * Lions of Shahba battalion (Aleppo province)
 * Saad Allah Al-Jabiri battalion (Aleppo province)
 * Omari battalion (Daraa/Hauran)
 * Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash battalion (As-Suwayda)
 * Qassam battalion (Jableh)
 * Suqur battalion (Latakia)
 * Samer Nunu battalion (Baniyas)
 * Mishaal Tammo battalion (Qamishli)
 * Odai Al-Tayi battalion (Hasakah)
 * Omar Ibn al-Khattab battalion (Deir ez-Zor city)
 * Moaz Al-Raqad battalion (Deir ez-Zor province)
 * Osoud al Sunna Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province)
 * Zi Qar Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province)
 * Al Moata Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province)
 * Allahu Akbar battalion (Abu Kamal)
 * Dawn of Freedom battalion (Homs province)
 * Bakkour battalion (Homs province)
 * Ramy Al-Sayeed battalion (Homs province)
 * Rijal al Umma Brigade (Homs province)
 * Tel Kalakh Martyrs’ battalion (Homs province)
 * Shuhada al Badiya Brigade (Homs province)
 * Al Karama Brigade (Homs province)
 * Ahmad Nayif Al-Sukhni battalion (Ar-Raqqah)
 * Abu Obeidah bin Al-Jarrah battalion (Damascus province)
 * Souqour Dimashq battalion (Damascus city)
 * Osama bin Laden brigade (Damascus city)
 * Jesus Christ brigade
 * Ansar Allah (God's Supporters) battalion
 * Saint George battalion
 * Liwaa al-Umma
 * Ansar Brigade
 * 19th Division
 * Northern Storm Brigade

Syrian Islamic Liberation Front branches
Syrian Islamic Liberation Front


 * Farouq Brigades (14,000-20,000)
 * Suqour al-Sham Brigade (9,000-12,000) (more fundamentalist than other SILF brigades, cooperates closely with SIF and al-Qaida groups)
 * Liwa al-Islam (10,000)
 * Al-Tawhid Brigade (3,500-10,000)
 * Kurdish Salaheddine Battalion
 * Liwa al-Fath, Battalion of Conquest, (Aleppo)
 * Deir ez-Zor Revolutionary Council
 * Tajamo Ansar al-Islam
 * Amr Ibn al-Aas Brigade
 * Army of Mohammed
 * Hawks Brigades
 * Qamishli Kurds
 * al-Naser Salaheddin Brigade
 * Liwa Dawud
 * Hawks Sham brigades
 * Farouq Islamic Brigades
 * Banner of Islam
 * Unification Brigade
 * Council Rebels of Deir ez-Zor
 * Furqan Brigade (Damascus)
 * Al-Quneitra Furqan Brigade
 * Hamza al-Ansar Brigade
 * Ahrar al-Shamal Brigades (Idlib province, Hama province)
 * Ebad Idlib Ma'arrat of Rahman al-Nu'man Brigade
 * Open Brigade (Aleppo)
 * Brigade of Homs (Homs)
 * Mohammed bin Abdullah Brigade (Homs)
 * Return of the Martyr Ahmed Battalion (Homs)
 * National Liberation Movement (Homs)
 * Household Brigade (Hama)
 * Brigades of God (Lattakia)
 * Izz ibn Abd al-Salam Brigades (Lattakia)
 * Council of Banias (Tartous)
 * Tartous Military (Tartous)

Syrian Islamic Front branches
Syrian Islamic Front
 * Ahrar ash-Sham (10,000-20,000)
 * Al-Haqq Brigade
 * Al-Fajr Islamic Movement
 * Ansar al-Sham
 * Jaysh al-Tawhid
 * Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib Brigade
 * Haqq Battalions Gathering
 * Islamic Vanguard Group
 * Islamic Dawn Movement
 * Fighting Faith Battalions
 * Moussaab bin Omeir Battalion
 * Suqour al-Islam Battalions
 * Special Assignments Companies

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria branches
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
 * Al-Qaeda in Iraq (2,500)
 * Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (1,000)
 * Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura

Authenticity and Development Front branches
Authenticity and Development Front
 * Southern Front
 * Battalion for the People of Damascus
 * Saarim Battalion
 * Muawiyah Battalion
 * The Zamalka Martyrs Brigade
 * Originality Battalion
 * Imam Bukhari Battalion
 * Northern Front
 * Nour al-Din al-Zinki Brigades
 * Impacting People Brigade
 * Criterion Brigades
 * Free Izzat Circuit Brigade
 * Right Jund
 * Armour Brigade of the Nation
 * Right Brigade
 * Alababil Brigade
 * Banner of Freedom
 * Black Brigade of War
 * Battalion of the Martyr Ismail Al-Abdullah
 * Western Front
 * First Brigade
 * Brigade of the Martyr Hamza al-Khatib
 * Brigade of the Martyr Riyad Abdeen
 * Central Front
 * I Corps
 * People Brigades
 * Miqdad ibn al-Aswad Battalion
 * Short Brigade
 * Ancestors Battalion
 * Sincerity Brigade
 * Eastern Front
 * Promise of Victory Brigade
 * Impact on People Brigade
 * Black Tawhid Year Brigade
 * Allahu Akhbar Brigades
 * Stationed Brigades
 * Hudhaifah bin al-Yaman Battalion
 * Muawiyah Battalion
 * Impact on People Battalion
 * Hawks of the Year Brigade
 * Ahl al-Athar Brigade
 * Hamza Brigade

Independent or non-affiliated groups

 * Ahfad al-Rasul Brigade (7,000-9,000)
 * Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade