National Front for Liberation
| National Front for Liberation | |
|---|---|
جبهة الوطنية للتحرير Participant in the Syrian Civil WarJabhat al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir | |
 Logo of the National Front for Liberation  Flag of the National Front for Liberation | |
| Active | 28 May 2018 – present |
| Allegiance |  Syrian Interim Government |
| Leaders |
Since August 2018:
May–August 2018: |
| Area of operations | Northwestern Syria |
| Size | 70,000 (claimed)[3][better source needed] |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army
|
| Allies |  Turkey[5] Army of Glory Tahrir al-Sham (sometimes)[6] |
| Opponent(s) |  Syria Russia Iran Syrian Democratic Forces[7] Tahrir al-Sham (sometimes) |
| Battles and war(s) | Syrian Civil War |
| Website | https://twitter.com/alwataniatahrer |
The National Front for Liberation (Arabic: جبهة الوطنية للتحرير, Jabhat al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir) is a Syrian rebel coalition identifying as part of the Free Syrian Army fighting in the Syrian Civil War. The group was formed by 11 rebel factions in northwestern Syria in May 2018,[8] and was officially announced on 28 May 2018. The formation receives major support from Turkey.[5] The group joined the Syrian National Army on 4 October 2019, planning to become the SNA's 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th legions.[4] Both NFL and SNA fighters were uninformed of the merger, which took place in a press conference in Urfa, southern Turkey.[9]
Commanders[edit]
Initially between 28 May and 1 August 2018, Colonel Fadlallah al-Haji of the Sham Legion was appointed as the group's overall commander, Lieutenant Colonel Suhaib Leoush of the Free Idlib Army as its deputy commander, and Major Muhammad Mansour of the Army of Victory as its chief of staff.[1]
On 1 August, Ahmad Sarhan ("Abu Satif") of the Suqour al-Sham Brigades and Walid al-Mushayil ("Abu Hashim") of Jaysh al-Ahrar were named as the group's new first and second deputy commanders, respectively, while Walid al-Mushayil ("Abu Hashim") of Ahrar al-Sham was appointed chief of staff.[2]
History[edit]
On 4 June 2018, the Martyrs of Islam Brigade, part of the National Front for Liberation, joined the Sham Legion, also part of the NFL.[10]
On 1 August, the Syrian Liberation Front, which was formed by Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in February 2018, as well as Jaysh al-Ahrar and the Damascus Gathering joined the formation.[2]
On 5 August, the NFL arrested 45 people accused of attempting to reconcile with the Syrian government in al-Ghab Plain and Mount Shashabo in the western Hama countryside.[11] On 13 August, the crackdown campaign was expanded to Maarat al-Nu'man and Ariha.[12]
On 9 August, the NFL's Sham Legion launched an attack on a People's Protection Units (YPG) cell in the southeastern Afrin countryside, killing 4 YPG fighters and capturing small arms and ammunition.[7]
On 14 August, the group released a video showing the training of its self-proclaimed "Unit 82 SWAT Forces".[13] On the same day, a group of around 200 fighters formed the Free Hayan Brigade and joined the NFL in order to "unite factions", "fight forces of the Syrian regime", and avoid rebel infighting.[14] The next day, the Free North Brigade which operates around the same area also joined the NFL.[15] On 27 August, the Imam Ali Battalion joined the Free North Brigade.[16]
On 26 March 2019, The National Front for Liberation released a statement declaring its rejection and condemnation of US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.[17]
Since the Syrian launched an offensive against rebel-held territory in northwestern Syria on 30 April 2019, the NFL closely cooperated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Army of Glory, and other rebel groups to counter the offensive.[6]
On 9 October 2019, 500 fighters from Jaysh al-Izza, including its deputy commander-in-chief Capt. Manaf Maarati and spokesman Capt. Mustafa Maarati, reportedly defected to the NFL.[18]
Member groups[edit]
- Sham Legion
- Martyrs of Islam Brigade
- Central Division
- Free Idlib Army
- 1st Coastal Division
- 2nd Army
- 2nd Coastal Division
- Elite Army
- 1st Infantry Division
- Army of Victory
- 23rd Division
- Islamic Freedom Brigade
- Syrian Liberation Front
- Suqour al-Sham Brigades
- Jaysh al-Ahrar
- Damascus Gathering
- Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib Battalions[19]
- Brigades and Battalions to Unite the Capital
- Miqdad ibn Amr Brigade
- Unit 82 SWAT Forces[13]
- Free Hayan Brigade[14]
- Free North Brigade[15]
- Imam Ali Battalion[16]
See also[edit]
- 5th Corps (Syrian rebel group)
- Syrian Revolutionary Command Council
- Syrian Islamic Liberation Front
- National Front for Liberation–Tahrir al-Sham conflict
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"". Syria Call. 28 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Meet the leading leaders of the "National Liberation Front"". Enab Baladi. 1 August 2018.
- ^ "المعارضة المعتدلة.. القوة الأساسية في إدلب | هيومن فويس | عين على الحقيقة". هيومن فويس | عين على الحقيقة (in Arabic). 11 September 2018.
- ^ a b "At the request of the Turkish Government, the National Liberation Front merges with the "National Army" in the form of 4 Corps of the "Ministry of Defense within the interim Syrian government"". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 4 October 2019.
- ^ a b "11 فصيلًا يشكلون "الجبهة الوطنية للتحرير" في إدلب". Enab Baladi. 29 May 2018.
- ^ a b Anchal Vohra (May 2019). "Turkey-backed fighters join forces with HTS rebels in Idlib". Al Jazeera English.
- ^ a b c "Four dead for "units" Kurdish in Afrin region in confrontations with the "free"". SMART News Agency. 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Many factions in the province of Idlib are moving to merge under the name "National Liberation Front"". Syria Call. 11 May 2018.
- ^ Ragip Soylu, Harun al-Aswad (4 October 2019). "Syrian rebel groups merge as Turkish offensive looms". Middle East Eye.
- ^ @QalaatAlMudiq (4 June 2018). "Syria: FSA Shuhada Islam Brigade from Daraya officially merged with Faylaq Sham, part of National Liberation Front (#NLF)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ ""National Liberation Front" begins a security campaign against "Orabi reconciliation"". Enab Baladi. 5 August 2018.
- ^ ""National Liberation Front" campaign against promoters of surrender to the Syrian regime expands to the cities of "Ma'arat al-Nu'man and Ariha". Syria Call. 13 August 2018.
- ^ a b @alwataniathrer (14 August 2018). "National Front for Liberation" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Dozens of fighters form the brigade of northern Aleppo and declare joining the "National Front"". SMART News Agency. 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b الشامية, محرر الدرر (15 August 2018). ""الجبهة الوطنية للتحرير" تتوسّع بانضمام فصيل عسكري جديد". الدرر الشامية (in Arabic).
- ^ a b @badly_xeroxed (27 August 2018). "The Imam Ali Battalion led by Waled Shagal joined the ranks of FSA National Liberation Front" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2m6W-sWsAI_ubn.jpg
- ^ "Including leaders in the first row .. Defected elements of the "Army of Glory"". Zaman al-Wasl. 10 October 2019.
- ^ "The assassination of a leader of Ahrar al-Sham north of Idlib, and the last escape of the west of Hama". STEP News Agency. 2 February 2018.
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