Basic guide to factions in the syrian civil war part ii. The secret service of the syrian government has managed to once more checkmate the turkeys officials in a successful operation during which a fugitive captain of the syrian army, who had defected to the free syrian army, has been captured. The free syrian army claims to have units loosely under its command all across syria, painting its fighters as military defectors and armed protesters merely seeking a democratic future. During this period, he tells his life as it happened. What foreign powers want from the syrian war news dw 12. Feb 27, 2021 the myth of the moderate syrian opposition. In the free syrian army, as an independent, defected soldier, or civilian volunteer, my first responsibilities are to. An analysis of main goals of selected internal actors of. New book exposes goals behind washingtons syria propaganda. Syria, code of conduct of the free syrian army how does law. Aug 24, 20 there has been international concerns that islamic militants have infiltrated the mainstream rebel group, known as the free syrian army, who have been fighting the government forces of president bashar hafez alassad in a twoyear war that has claimed over 100,000 lives. The free syrian army institute for the study of war.
Basic guide to factions in the syrian civil war 2014. South syria, a region bordering with jordan and israel, was the quietest of all israels borders from 1974 until the outbreak. Divisions, lack of arms underscore weakness of free syrian. Dec 31, 2012 the dark side of the free syrian army 12312012 09. Once in turkey, the defective captain was in charge of the intelligence operations of the free syrian army in that country. Their goal is to save darayas books, as the city is currently under the. The free syrian army fsa is a loose faction in the syrian civil war founded on 29 july 2011 by officers of the syrian armed forces whose stated goal was to. Pdf us vs free syrian army vs jabhat alnusra and isis.
The free syrian army, the nusra front, and isis then known as the islamic state of iraq. Syria already had enormous economic problems, and the war has made things much worse. Jan 26, 2015 moderate syrian rebels took up arms to topple president bashar assad. The term was first used by the turkeybased military defector colonel riad alasaad, who in late july 2011 issued a statement proclaiming himself supreme commander of a rebel.
Aug 28, 20 the syrian electronic army hacked into harvard universitys homepage, replacing photos on the website with an image of assad and the words syrian electronic army were here. Since the start of the syrian war, turkey has been the most aggressive state supporter of the syrian armed opposition. To survive, many had to join armed forces, and join the group that paid the most. Free syrian army secularist army of syrian military defectors whose only goal is to overthrow president bashar alassad. Free syrian army unleashes suicide bombing in damascus. A free syrian army commander after rebels failed to capture a syrian army tank during clashes in aleppo on april 29, 20. But what appeared more of a rout highlighted the rebels dire lack of weapons and heightened the debate over whether external governments should try to supply them. May 12, 2014 free syrian army fighters walk with their weapons in almaliha town, in the suburbs of damascus, april 27. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle. Syrian rebels share common goal voice of america english. The bab alsalameh border crossing under syrian rebel control.
Jan 05, 2019 the armed rebellion against assad was first organized by army defectors who in summer 2011 set up the free syrian army. Chief among them is securing the roads in the badia region the syrian desert, limiting is operations and military capabilities and curbing the spread of the organization in the badia, which extends over raqqa, hama, homs, deir ezzor and aleppo provinces. A lack of unity has made cooperation and coordination difficult on the battlefield and has limited the effectiveness of rebel operations. After the russian militarys official intervention in syria in september 2015 alongside the syrian regime to stop the expansion of opposition factions in large areas, russian president vladimir putin predicted that the intervention would be temporary for three or four months and only through the air force. Free syrian army turns to turkey for support in war against assad. The free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army.
I have written a book and many articles on this topic. Army of islam coalition established in syria israel. Oct 17, 20 the ncc believes the free syrian army is an essential part of the revolution and plays an important role in protecting society, but rejects calls to arm it or for foreign military intervention. Syrian martyrs brigade unit of the free syrian army. Recently, the opposition has established a new national military structure that may grow to serve this purpose. While some exfighters still support the goals of the revolution in principle, many have lost hope that victory can. Nato airlifting libyan terrorists and weapons for salvadoran death squad option vs. Syrian rebels see chance for new life with turkish troops. Dec 19, 20 at a time when some observers are proclaiming the collapse of the free syrian army, the constituent parts of the rebel forces, such as bayoushs brigade, remain committed and intact. Despite your calling me a jihadi, im free syrian army and i want to bring down the regime to build a new government, to live in a free society.
The motivations of syrian islamist fighters combating. Saving books from the syrian war the france 24 observers. The free syrian army media reporting has consistently focused on the free syrian army fsa, but the fsa has always been more of a brand name than an actual organization. Even the free syrian army, touted in the early days of the rebellion as a liberal democratic movement, not only included islamists. The syrian military rises from the ashes israel defense. The best books on the syrian civil war five books expert. Fragmentation and disorganization have plagued syrias armed opposition since peaceful protestors took up arms in december 2011 and began forming rebel groups under the umbrella of the free syrian army. Mar 11, 2015 a rebel fighter of the southern front of the free syrian army gestures while standing with his fellow fighter near their weapons at the front line in the northwest countryside of daraa march 3, 2015. I will direct my weapons exclusively against assad aggressors. The fsa formed to fight the assad regime and supposedly for democracy, but now they. The us has officially given up on the free syrian army. Feb 26, 2021 in december 2017, the free syrian army fsa became the syrian national army sna, further unifying militant opposition factions under turkish control. This reality sharply contrasts with the comic book view widely expressed in tabloid journals of the mainstream, left and right, that alleges. Oct 01, 2015 a fighter from the free syrian army fired his weapon at the forces of syrias president bashar alassad in jobar, a suburb of damascus, syria, july 27, 2015.
Fighters from jaish alizzah, part of the free syrian army, stand in. This reality sharply contrasts with the comic book view. Syrian rebels want to fight assad, but now theyll face isis. Us air strikes in syria driving antiassad groups to support. A new army, the free syrian army, was established to face assads forces. Matthew schrier interview surviving a syrian prison. Syrian refugees plight in lebanon 10 years after the uprising lebanon hosts the largest per capita population of syrian refugees in the world, providing shelter to 1.
For instance, i know of people from the free syrian army who went to al qaeda or is early on because they paid more. Fall of syrian town delivers strategic and symbolic prize. Nov 26, 2016 the free syrian army began with a core group of senior officers who defected from the syrian army and recruited thousands of soldiers and civilians. Therefore, the values and goals of the revolution freedom, dignity. It was the great hope of the rebels, who believed that with sufficient funding and weapons from arab and western states it could bring down bashar assads army. Fall of syrian town delivers strategic and symbolic prize to.
Nov 23, 2014 fighters from the free syrian army and several islamic military groups say isis is gaining allies or truces due to us bombings mona mahmood sun 23 nov 2014 09. Basic guide to factions in the syrian civil war 2014 part iii free syrian army for those who want a basic guide to whos who in the syrian civil war, here is a list of all factions in the civil war with a short description of their goals, size, and allegiance. Free syrian army debunking 10 lies about syria and assad. Dec, 20 the free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army deserters based in turkey, led by col riad alasaad. In january 2018, using factions from the newly named sna, turkey launched operation olive branch on afrin, a kurdishmajority city in northwest syria. March 20 elizabeth obagy middle east security report. More killings other religious groups have also been targeted. Turkey hosted the first military operations room of the free syrian army fsa and was integral in facilitating support from western and gulf countries.
Its banner was soon adopted by armed groups that began appearing across the country. Feb 10, 2020 aided by foreign money and guns, the protesters began to arm themselves and the free syrian army clashed with government troops for control of the strategically located town. Badra mametreuters by vera mironova, loubna mrie and sam whitt. Basic guide to factions in the syrian civil war 2014 part. It is one of the largest rebel factions in idlib governorate, holding 7,00012,000 fighters. Their clashes with syrian security forces have increased in the past weeks. Introductionthis article deals with a specific aspect of the us role in the syrian conflict. Defectors claim attack that killed syrian soldiers the new. The free syrian army fsa, made up of former government soldiers and recruits, on thursday called it a tactical retreat. This is one of the branches of the zionist lobby in the usa, and it organizes the syrian opposition, from the syrian national council in istanbul to the militias of the free syrian army. Along with other nonjihadist rebel groups, it seeks the ouster of president assad and democratic. The free syrian army aims to be the military wing of the syrian peoples opposition to the regime, and it aims to bring down the government by armed operations, encouraging army defections and by carrying out armed action. The worries of a syrian rebel commander the new yorker.
Rival syrian governments lock horns in a bloodless but. This what a syrian citys first free library looks like. The russian role in the syrian army preventive intervention and interestbased control. Their ranks soon swelled with thousands of volunteers, some wanting to defend their towns from regimes brutality, others also are driven by ideological opposition to assads secular dictatorship. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle east. Free syrian army syria civil war alnusra front syria army of islam alnusra syrian violence dalit halevy, maayana miskin, sep 29, 20 2.
Elite competition may also explain why, despite many common goals, there is fierce infighting among various islamist groups and the free syrian army. Christians massacred by free syrian army terrorists rebels. Syrian rebels march on damascus becomes fight for their. Conflict, an actor of a conflict, goals, conflict behaviour, religion. Dozens of jewish researchers work in this institute, including the splinter group known as the jewish group against syria. A formal organization at its founding, its structure gradually dissipated by late. Nov 23, 2016 now working on a third book, a guide to the syrian crisis, for oxford university press. Isis evolved into a serious threat pursuant to its successes opposite the forces of the regular army.
Mar 18, 2021 there are several goals behind the russian airstrikes. Defend syrian revolutiona ries in the face of tyranny and ensure the continuation of the revolution to oust the regime. For the first part, here is a list of all those affiliated with the free syrian army, the main rebel faction. For those who want a basic guide to whos who in the syrian civil war, here is a list of all factions in the civil war with a short description of their goals, size, and allegiance. Therefore, the values and goals of the revolution freedom, dignity, and justice for syria and the syrian people, and the protection and unity of the country, must serve as the military doctrine and governing principles for the army s actions and the. The nonstate militant landscape in syria combating. Dec 20, 2017 this article deals with a specific aspect of the us role in the syrian conflict. The free syrian army initially tried to refute the regimes claims about it being composed of. Us vs free syrian army vs jabhat alnusra and isis new.
You can find more details in my book, deconstructing the syrian war which also delves into history, geopolitics, islamic terrorism, war propaganda and the bigger picture about the struggle for global hegemony. The author brings up what it took to survive and succeed in the united states and finally, how he got involved with americas energy independence goals. If americans and europeans dont understand the true motives and facts about the syrian war, they will be lead into calamitous. There are believed to be as many as armed opposition groups in. The free syrian army has joined turkish soldiers in the attack into northern syria against the kurds in afrin. The term fsa suggests a unity that is a thing of the. Jalel, 35, a former captain in the syrian special forces who defected to join the uprising in 2012, the free syrian army still represents the original ideals of the arab spring democracy. Free syrian army fighters take a break from clashes in a coffee shop in aleppo. Madrid 2004 bomber belhadj of al qaeda now commands fsa from iskanderun, turkey. Signs of strain on syrias army build the new york times. Most 81% of islamists think that the goals of their group are not compatible with those of other rebel groups and 58% agree that even if alassad is removed from power, their group will have to. Syrian arab army forces position themselves on mount. The scholarrebels of the free syrian university the atlantic. Syria, code of conduct of the free syrian army how does.
France ramped up its airstrikes on isis targets in raqqa, syria. Aug 23, 2012 young syrians living outside the country offer technological help to the free syrian army to tell their stories by rudi bakhtiar mon, 08202012 01. In 20, a new enemy of the regime appeared on the scene the islamic state organization. Jan 12, 2012 free syrian army unleashes suicide bombing in damascus.
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