| Syrian Liberation Front | |
|---|---|
|
Arabic language: جبهة تحرير سوريا Jabhat Tahrir Suriya Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
|
File:Logo of the Syrian Liberation Front.png The logo of the Syrian Liberation Front | |
| Active | 18 February 2018 – present |
| Ideology |
Sunni Islamism
|
| Groups |
 Ahrar al-Sham |
| Leaders |
(deputy commander and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander) (head of political bureau) (military commander) (Ahrar al-Sham deputy commander) |
| Area of operations |
Greater Idlib pocket
|
| Allies |
 Suqour al-Sham Brigades[6] |
| Opponents |
 Syrian Armed Forces[3] Tahrir al-Sham[7] |
| Battles/wars | |
The Syrian Liberation Front (Arabic language: جبهة تحرير سوريا, Jabhat Tahrir Suriya) is a Syrian rebel group formed as a merger of Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, two hardline Sunni Islamist groups and the two largest rebel groups in northwestern Syria behind their main rival, Tahrir al-Sham. In its formation statement on 18 February 2018, the Syrian Liberation Front called on other rebel groups to join it,[1] and stated that it was formed as a result of an initiative by the Syrian Islamic Council.[4] Ahrar al-Sham factions operating outside of the greater Idlib area appear not to be included in this merger, as they still operate under the banner of Ahrar al-Sham.
Leadership[]
Initially, Jaber Ali Pasha, deputy commander of Ahrar al-Sham, was nominated as the general commander of the Syrian Liberation Front.[5] Sheikh Tawfiq Shahabuddin, commander of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, was named the deputy commander. Hussam Atrash and Captain Khalid Abu Yaman were appointed as the political and military commanders of the group.[4] After hours of disputes over leadership positions, however, Hassan Soufan, general commander of Ahrar al-Sham, took over as the general commander of the group, replacing Jaber Ali Pasha.[8]
History[]
On 19 February 2018, the day after the Syrian Liberation Front was established, violent clashes erupted between the group and Tahrir al-Sham in the western Aleppo Governorate. The conflict soon spread to the Idlib Governorate and the SLF captured the city of Maarrat al-Nu'man, the towns of Ariha and Tramla, and the Wadi Deif military base from HTS on 21 February.[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hardline Syria rebels announce merger". Agence France-Presse. 19 February 2018. https://www.brecorder.com/2018/02/19/399757/hardline-syria-rebels-announce-merger/.
- ↑ روش, كودي. "Liwa al-Adiyat of the Badia Sector defect from #HTS to join #JTSpic.twitter.com/ILZ8on4QPw". https://twitter.com/badly_xeroxed/status/965335199801315333.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ahrar al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki unify against Syrian regime". Daily Sabah with Anadolu Agency. 19 February 2018. https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2018/02/20/ahrar-al-sham-nour-al-din-al-zenki-unify-against-syrian-regime.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "أحرار الشام والزنكي يشكلون "جبهة تحرير سوريا"". Baladi News Network. 18 February 2018. https://www.baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/27797/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%86%D9%83%D9%8A_%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "مصدر: جابر علي باشا قائدًا عامًا لـ "جبهة تحرير سوريا" للمزيد:". Enab Baladi. 18 February 2018. https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/207770.
- ↑ "Syrian War Daily – 21st of February 2018". Syrian War Daily. 21 February 2018. https://syrianwardaily.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/syrian-war-daily-21st-of-february-2018/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Two of the largest factions in Syria’s northwest merge, challenge HTS dominance". Syria Direct. 22 February 2018. http://syriadirect.org/news/two-of-the-largest-factions-in-syria%E2%80%99s-northwest-merge-challenge-hts-dominance/.
- ↑ "خلاف يعيد حسن صوفان قائدًا لـ "جبهة تحرير سوريا" للمزيد:". Enab Baladi. 18 February 2018. https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/207774.
The original article can be found at Syrian Liberation Front and the edit history here.