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| * ]]<ref name=MEE29nov>{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086|title=YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo|date=29 November 2015|work=]}}</ref> | * ]]<ref name=MEE29nov>{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086|title=YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo|date=29 November 2015|work=]}}</ref> | ||
| ** {{flagicon image|Infobox al-Bab Military Council.png}} ] | ** {{flagicon image|Infobox al-Bab Military Council.png}} ] | ||
| * ] ( |
* ] (dissolved, 2015) | ||
| * ] (former, 2015)<ref name=why>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2016/02/syria-jaysh-thuwar-mission-accusations-links-immunity.html#|title=Why Jaish al-Thuwar was bombarded by Turkey|work=Al-Monitor|date=18 February 2016}}</ref> | * ] (former, 2015)<ref name=why>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2016/02/syria-jaysh-thuwar-mission-accusations-links-immunity.html#|title=Why Jaish al-Thuwar was bombarded by Turkey|work=Al-Monitor|date=18 February 2016}}</ref>{{Better source|date=July 2017}} | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| | previous = | | previous = | ||
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| {{div col|colwidth=20em}} | {{div col|colwidth=20em}} | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] (former) | ||
| * 99th Infantry Brigade (former member of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front) | * 99th Infantry Brigade (former member of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front) | ||
| * 455th Special Tasks Brigade | * 455th Special Tasks Brigade | ||
| * 777th Regiment (former member of the ])<ref name=Mustafa /> | * 777th Regiment (former, former member of the ])<ref name=Mustafa /> | ||
| * Sultan Selim Brigade (part of the ])<ref name=Mustafa /> | * Sultan Selim Brigade (former, part of the ])<ref name=Mustafa /> | ||
| * Homs Revolutionary Union<ref name=Mustafa /> (left in February 2016, joined the ] in 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/157192|title=Commander of the "rebels Khalidiya" .. fought in Homs and Idlib and was assassinated in the door|work=]|date=20 June 2017}}</ref> | * Homs Revolutionary Union<ref name=Mustafa /> (left in February 2016, joined the ] in 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/157192|title=Commander of the "rebels Khalidiya" .. fought in Homs and Idlib and was assassinated in the door|work=]|date=20 June 2017}}</ref> | ||
| {{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
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| On 7 May 2015, 5 rebel groups based in the southern Idlib Governorate joined the Army of Revolutionaries:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/2015/05/07/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB/|title=Five Military Factions To Join The Ranks Of The "Army Rebels"|work=RFS Media Office|date=7 May 2015}}</ref> | On 7 May 2015, 5 rebel groups based in the southern Idlib Governorate joined the Army of Revolutionaries:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/2015/05/07/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB/|title=Five Military Factions To Join The Ranks Of The "Army Rebels"|work=RFS Media Office|date=7 May 2015}}</ref> | ||
| {{div col|colwidth=30em}} | {{div col|colwidth=30em}} | ||
| * Martyr Yusuf al-Quzhul Company | * Martyr Yusuf al-Quzhul Company (former) | ||
| * Southern Storm Company | * Southern Storm Company (former) | ||
| * Eagles of the Sunnah Company | * Eagles of the Sunnah Company (former) | ||
| * Truthful Promise Company | * Truthful Promise Company (former) | ||
| * Fighters for Justice Company | * Fighters for Justice Company (former) | ||
| Other groups:<ref name=Mustafa/><ref name=brigades/> | Other groups:<ref name=Mustafa/><ref name=brigades/> | ||
| * ] Martyrs Brigade ( |
* ] Martyrs Brigade (left to join the ] in May 2016, former component of the Hazm Movement and Farouq Brigades) | ||
| * Descendants of Othman Brigade (left to join the Houla Operations Room in October 2015) | * Descendants of Othman Brigade (left to join the Houla Operations Room in October 2015) | ||
| * Revolutionary ] Movement (left to join the ] operations room in August 2015, left Jaysh al-Nasr when it became a unified group in October 2015) | * Revolutionary ] Movement (left to join the ] operations room in August 2015, left Jaysh al-Nasr when it became a unified group in October 2015) | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * {{official website}} {{ar icon}} | * {{official website}} {{ar icon}} | ||
| * https://www.facebook.com/THWAR1/ | |||
| * https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-m2cgFIAY7amWxWBVfhuw/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=0fatah ha | |||
| {{2011 Syrian uprising}} | {{2011 Syrian uprising}} | ||
Revision as of 12:08, 17 July 2017
Not to be confused with Revolutionary Army (Syria).| Army of Revolutionaries Jaysh al-Thuwar | |
|---|---|
| جيش الثوار | |
 Official logo of Jaysh al-Thuwar  Jaysh al-Thuwar flag | |
| Leaders | Current:
Former:
(former spokesperson)
|
| Dates of operation | 3 May 2015 – present |
| Headquarters | Tel Rifaat & Maryamin, Afrin, Aleppo Governorate |
| Active regions | |
| Part of |
|
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
| Website | jeshalthowar |
The Army of Revolutionaries (Template:Lang-ar), or Jaysh al-Thuwar, is a multi-ethnic armed Syrian rebel coalition that is allied with the primarily Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and participating in the Syrian Civil War as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Established in May 2015, with a presence in six governorates, and its membership includes Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen. With its stated aims of fighting both the Syrian government and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), it was expected to become one of the more relevant rebel alliances in northern Syria, consolidating the democratic rebel spectrum. It was considered as one of the "potential powerbrokers" in the Aleppo, Hama, Idlib, and Latakia governorates.
While Jaysh al-Thuwar considers itself to be a part of the rebel mainstream and turned down the U.S. Train-and-Equip-Program because it wanted to be able to fight the Syrian government as well as ISIL, it has always been allied with the YPG. It therefore did not receive Turkish support, rejected the Friends of Syria Group, and became embroiled in open conflict with Islamist rebel groups.
Subsequently, Jaysh al-Thuwar retreated from rebel-held areas and further deepened its bonds with the YPG. In October 2015, it became one of the constituents of the Syrian Democratic Forces, increasingly integrating with the SDF's common frontlines against ISIL and other Islamist forces.
History
Establishment
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On 3 May 2015, some of the former members of the northern branches of the Hazzm Movement and the Syria Revolutionaries Front along with Jabhat al-Akrad, the Dawn of Freedom Brigades main component group the Northern Sun Battalion (making the Dawn of Freedom Brigades defunct in the process) and smaller FSA groups formed the Army of Revolutionaries. Many of the northern members of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front and Hazzm Movement also joined the Levant Front.
In an October 2015 publication, the Washington D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War considered Jaysh al-Thuwar as one of the "potential powerbrokers" in Aleppo province, where it is part of the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room, as well as in Hama, Idlib and Latakia provinces, though not in Homs province.
The original founding groups on 3 May were:
- Kurdish Front
- Northern Sun Battalion (former)
- 99th Infantry Brigade (former member of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front)
- 455th Special Tasks Brigade
- 777th Regiment (former, former member of the Farouq Brigades)
- Sultan Selim Brigade (former, part of the Syrian Turkmen Brigades)
- Homs Revolutionary Union (left in February 2016, joined the Sultan Murad Division in 2017)
Additional groups that joined
On 7 May 2015, 5 rebel groups based in the southern Idlib Governorate joined the Army of Revolutionaries:
- Martyr Yusuf al-Quzhul Company (former)
- Southern Storm Company (former)
- Eagles of the Sunnah Company (former)
- Truthful Promise Company (former)
- Fighters for Justice Company (former)
Other groups:
- Atarib Martyrs Brigade (left to join the Army of Mujahideen in May 2016, former component of the Hazm Movement and Farouq Brigades)
- Descendants of Othman Brigade (left to join the Houla Operations Room in October 2015)
- Revolutionary Fedayeen Movement (left to join the Jaysh al-Nasr operations room in August 2015, left Jaysh al-Nasr when it became a unified group in October 2015)
- Brigade 313 – Free Men of Aqrab (left to join the Houla Operations Room in October 2015)
- Seljuk Brigade (former member of the Suleyman Shah Brigade)
- al-Qa'qa' Brigade (former member of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front, later left and was renamed to the Northern Democratic Brigade in 2016)
- Division 30 remnants
Current member groups
- Kurdish Front
- Tel Rifaat Revolutionaries Battalion
- Shahba Women's Front
- Division 30 remnants
- Seljuk Brigade
- Hammam Turkmen Martyrs Brigade
- Martyr Qasim Areef Battalion
- Homs Commandos Brigade
- 99th Infantry Brigade
- 455th Special Tasks Brigade
- Tribal Forces
Battles and territorial presences
Jaysh al-Thuwar did not apply to join the American Train-and-Equip-Program because it declined to restrict itself to fighting ISIL. The Army subsequently released videos of them fighting both against the Syrian Army in Aleppo and the northern Homs pocket, as well as against ISIL in Mare', Kobanê and northern Raqqa.
It controlled territory to the west of Azaz, bordering the Kurdish-held Afrin Canton, and claimed further presences in the Rashidin neighborhood of Aleppo, as well as in Tell Malah and al-Ghab Plain areas in northern Hama, and sleeper cells in Manbij area.
The Army of Revolutionaries did not qualify for any support by Turkey, but neither did it receive any U.S. support. With weaponry considered "sparse by even Syrian standards", the coalition began to disintegrate early on.
In July 2015, Division 30 fighters retreated to territory controlled by the Army of Revolutionaries west of Azaz after being attacked by the al-Nusra Front. This led to clashes between the Army of Revolutionaries and al-Nusra.
On 29 August 2015, 30 fighters from the Army of Revolutionaries graduated from a boot camp west of Azaz, named after Alaa Ajabu, the former general commander of the Kurdish Front who was killed in action fighting against ISIL near Azaz in February 2014.
On 13 February 2016, the Homs Liberation Movement declared hostilities on the Army of Revolutionaries. This led to the defection of two groups affiliated with the Army of Revolutionaries in Homs: the Homs Revolutionary Union and the 777th Regiment. With this incident, the Army of Revolutionaries no longer operate in the Homs Governorate. However, a commander in the Homs Liberation Movement claimed that some rebels in Homs still have covert links to Jaysh al-Thuwar, but refused to name the groups, citing that "they deceived him" and he "does not know the nature of the said army's relationship with the enemies of the revolution".
Jaysh al-Thuwar claims to have a presence in the Idlib Governorate. Orient News claimed that the group has cells in Ariha that conducted assassinations and "kidnapping operations" in the Idlib countryside and 12 of them were reportedly captured by the Army of Conquest in March 2016.
Integration into the Syrian Democratic Forces
In spite of occasional denials, the rebel coalition has always been closely allied with the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The coalition was therefore met with distrust by more Islamist rebel factions, and became embroiled in open conflict with hard-line Islamists, such as the al-Nusra Front.
Further deepening bonds with the YPG and other anti-ISIL forces, the Army of Revolutionaries co-established the Syrian Democratic Forces in October 2015. Originally, only the eastern Syria branch of the group was part of the SDF. On 17 November 2015, 15 rebel groups led by the Army of Revolutionaries established the SDF's branch in Aleppo and Idlib. Subsequently, its constituents became involved in clashes with the al-Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham and Islamist groups of the Fatah Halab and the Mare' Operations Room. During the battles, two fighters of Jaysh al-Thuwar were beheaded by al-Nusra. According to observers, it therefore withdrew most of its presence from other rebel-held areas, refocusing on the Syrian Democratic Forces' joint front lines.
Since the establishment of the SDF, additional groups of various sizes have joined Jaysh al-Thuwar and its sub-factions.
On 21 January 2017, the Army of Revolutionaries released 74 prisoners of war from rival rebel forces. On 11 March 2017, after negotiations between the Syrian National Democratic Alliance, the political council of Idlib, and the Army of Revolutionaries, a second batch of 80 prisoners were released.
See also
References
- "Factions of the Free Army declare supporting JMC". Hawar News Agency. 29 August 2016.
- "Abu Ali cold .. "Rebel Alfnazi" ally of the PYD". Enab Baladi. 14 February 2016.
- "Abu Juma, leader of Jaysh al-Thuwar (back), speaking on the phone near the town of Azaz". ITAR-TASS Photo Agency. 10 March 2016.
- "Tribal forces: Our goal is liberation tenderness and all Syrian territory from terrorism". Hawar News Agency. 19 June 2017.
- "Arab revolutionary factions: we will liberate north of Syria". Hawar News Agency. 6 July 2017.
- "Abu Omar: Some of the media want to distort the image of the rebel army". Hawar News Agency. 11 January 2016.
- "A spokesman for the rebel army: Turkey's armed groups belonging to the base in Syria". Hawar News Agency. 27 February 2016.
- "The most prominent stations Omar Rakhmon representative of the regime in Aleppo agreement (Video)". Enab Baladi. 17 December 2016.
- ^ "Why Jaish al-Thuwar was bombarded by Turkey". Al-Monitor. 18 February 2016.
- ^ "YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo". Middle East Eye. 29 November 2015.
- ^ Hasan Mustafa (16 November 2015). "An Analysis of Jaish al-Thuwar (The Army of Revolutionaries) – A Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces". Hasan Mustafa. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "President of the Political Bureau (Rebel Army): Our goal is the unity of Syria and fighting regime forces and Daesh". Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office. 4 July 2015.
- ^ Jennifer Cafarella; Genevieve Casagrande (7 October 2015). "Syrian Opposition Guide" (PDF). Backgrounder. Institute for the Study of War: 16, 20, 23, 25, 27.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) Note that Raqqa province was not covered by the study. - "#Syria: Seven FSA groups (incl. Jabhat Akrad, Shams Shamal & Homs Revolutionary Union) form "The Revolutionary Army"". Twitter.
- "#SRO - EXCLUSIVE - Former Hazzm and #SRF forces allied with kurds and some #FSA small units to create Jaysh al-Thuwar (in 4 governorates)". Twitter.
- "Commander of the "rebels Khalidiya" .. fought in Homs and Idlib and was assassinated in the door". Enab Baladi. 20 June 2017.
- "Five Military Factions To Join The Ranks Of The "Army Rebels"". RFS Media Office. 7 May 2015.
- ^ "15 opposition brigades in Idlib, Aleppo join SDF forces". Syria Direct. 18 November 2015.
- "EXCLUSIVE - Liwa al-Qaqaa was one of Jaysh al-Thuwar for #Afrin then became autonomous in #SDF as Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati". Syrian Rebellion Obs . 11 November 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- "Arab fighters: ready to fight until the liberation of all over Syria". Hawar News Agency. 18 December 2015.
- "Kurds Front: we will resist to the last gasp". Hawar News Agency. 24 October 2016.
- "بيان إلى الرأي العام".
- "تشكيل أول كتيبة عسكرية لنساء مناطق الشهباء" (in Arabic). Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ypj mediacenter (12 August 2016). "عفرين- اختتام دورة عسكرية لنساء مناطق الشهباء (كتيبة الشهيدة جيان احرص)". Retrieved 1 September 2016 – via YouTube.
- News, ANF. "SDF announces the launch of 'Great Battle' for Raqqa". ANF News.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - "KurdisCat: 3 membres de Jabhat al Akrad i Quwat al-Ashair moren en combat contra l'IS al front d'al Bab". 6 December 2016.
- "Jaysh al-Thuwar: Our operations against Daesh terror continues". Hawar News Agency.
- "Rivals of ISIS Attack U.S.-Backed Syrian Rebel Group". The New York Times. 31 July 2015.
- "Al-Thuwar Army Ends Training The First Batch Of Special Forces In Northern Countryside Of Aleppo". RFS Media Office. 29 August 2015.
- "Homs liberation movement vows to members of the rebel army in Homs prosecution and trial". Sham News Network. 14 February 2016.
- ""Movement for the Liberation of Homs" accused "rebel army" by "collaborating" with the system through the "Democratic Union" Kurdish". SMART News Agency. 14 February 2016.
- "Jaysh al-Fatth captures a Jaysh al-Thuwar cell". Orient News. 31 March 2016.
- "Nusra reportedly attacks newly pledged SDF forces in Aleppo". Syria Direct. 25 November 2015.
- "Jabhat Al-Nusra assassinates members of the Army of the revolutionaries and civilians in Idlib Army". Syria Freedom Forever. 29 November 2015.
- "Kurds release 74 Turkey-backed rebels north Syria". ARA News. 22 January 2017.
- "Soldiers salute workers deserve". Syrian National Democratic Alliance. 14 March 2017.
External links
- Official website Template:Ar icon
- https://www.facebook.com/THWAR1/
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-m2cgFIAY7amWxWBVfhuw/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=0fatah ha
