Northern Storm Brigade

The Northern Storm Brigade, (لواء عاصفة الشمال, Liwa Asifat al-Shamal), is a Syrian rebel group formed in 2011. Its leader and other members of the group were smugglers from the city and its surrounding before the Syrian Civil War. It had been accused of kidnapping and smuggling. The group retained exclusive control of the Bab al-Salam border crossing.

History
The Northern Storm Brigade was responsible for the kidnapping of eleven Lebenese men in 2012. Nine of them were released on 19 October 2013. It fought in the Battle of Azaz (2012) and participated in the Siege of Menagh Air Base. The group's former leader Ammar Ibrahim Dadikhi was severely wounded in the middle of January 2013, during the siege of this base, which resulted in him losing one of his legs and eventually his life. He was succeeded by the group's former political leader: Samir Amouri. Two senior commanders (Hadi Salo and Samir Akkash) were also killed in this period, while other members of the group defected to Islamic rebel formations.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) attacked the town of Azaz in September 2013 and pushed the brigade out. Samir Amouri reportedly fled to Turkey and was replaced by the current leader: Mahmoud Naddom. Under his rule, the group began to develop relationships and begin coordinating with other rebels. They are now based in the Turkish city of Kilis.

On 28 February 2014, ISIS was ousted from Azaz by Kurdish and rebel forces, putting the Northern Storm Brigade back in power.