Saraya Ahl al-Sham

Saraya Ahl al-Sham (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 operated in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, mainly in the western Qalamoun Mountains along the Lebanon–Syria border. In August 2017, the group withdrew from the Lebanon–Syria border and currently operates in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains.

Member groups

 * Western Qalamoun Union
 * Levant Liberation Army
 * Levant Liberation Division
 * Levant Liberation Brigade
 * Sadik Unit
 * Martyr Mohammed Qassem Brigade
 * 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. On 14 August, he was assassinated in Arsal.

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.

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. However, during the eastern Qalamoun offensive (September—October 2016), the group joined with the other rebels in fighting ISIL.

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.

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.

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.

On 14 August 2017, the last 400 fighters of Saraya Ahl al-Sham and their families departed the Lebanon–Syria border and headed to the eastern Qalamoun Mountains.