Abdul Baset al-Sarout

Abdul Baset al-Sarout (عبد الباسط الساروت) is a former Syrian association football goalkeeper. He represented Syria at the U-17 and U-20 level. During the Siege of Homs from 2011-14, he became a Syrian rebel commander.

The Arab-speaking media network Al Jazeera described him as a "well known icon in the Syrian uprising". All four of his brothers were killed by Syrian security forces. His uncle, Mohe Edden al-Sarout, was killed during November 2011 in Homs.

Al-Sarout survived at least three assassination attempts during his role as a rebel commander. During one attempt, 50 fighters from his unit, the Bayada Martyrs' Brigade, were killed. He was featured in the 2013 war documentary The Return to Homs. In November 2015, al-Sarout and the Bayada Martyrs' Brigade came into conflict with al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front. Nusra attacked Sarout and his fighters over a claim that Sarout has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

On 29 May 2017, Sarout was arrested by Tahrir al-Sham after being accused of participating in an anti-HTS protest in Maarat al-Nu'man. He was released on 24 June and charges against him dropped.