Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade
| Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade | |
|---|---|
| لواء شهداء اليرموك Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk Participant in the Syrian Civil War |
|
| 200px Official logo of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade  Brigade Flag |
|
| Active | August 2012[1] – present |
| Leaders | Abu Abdullah al-Madani[2] (5 March 2016–present) Abu Obaideh Qahtan[3] (15 November 2015–5 March 2016)[2] Muhammad "Abu Ali" al-Baridi †[3][4][5] (2012–15 November 2015) |
| Headquarters | Jamla[3] |
| Strength | ≈ 600-1,000[6] |
| Part of |
|
| Became | Khalid ibn al-Walid Army |
| Allies |
|
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (Arabic: لواء شهداء اليرموك) is a rebel group in southern Syria, which is considered to be Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-affiliated and is fighting against several Syrian Opposition groups for dominance in the Yarmouk Basin.
History
The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade was originally set up in 2012, largely based on "local and familial ties, rather than ideology". At this stage connected to mainstream Syrian rebel bodies like the Supreme Military Council and Southern Front, the brigade became increasingly isolated from other groups, owing to accusations that it was affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[1][9][10]
The group gained attention when it abducted 21 Filipino UN soldiers in early March 2013,[11] releasing them on 10 March 2013.[12]
In late 2014, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade was involved in a series of low intensity clashes with al-Nusra Front, and in December 2014 Nusra launched an offensive against the brigade until other rebel groups intervened and confined the Brigade to its base in the towns of Jamla and al-Shajarah.[1] In April and May 2015, the brigade, as well as Jaysh al-Jihad, launched attacks on Nusra. This fighting ended following arbitration from other local groups.[1]
On 15 November 2015, its head Muhammad "Abu Ali" al-Baridi, nicknamed al-Khal (the Uncle), and five other leaders were killed in a bomb blast in Jamla, the village where the Brigade is headquartered. Al-Nusra Front claimed responsibility for the attack. Abu Obaideh Qahtan, said to have been the effective leader of the brigade anyway, took over as head.[3] Obaideh, a Palestinian-Syrian from the Yarmouk Camp, was not only a founding member of the brigade, but had also much military experience as veteran of the Soviet–Afghan War. Nevertheless, just four months after taking over, he was replaced as head by Abu Abdullah al-Madani, a previously unknown mujahid of Saudi origin. This development was both attributed to Obaideh's lacking administration skills and the strengthening links of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade with ISIL, as al-Madani was said to have been sent by the ISIL leadership to lead the brigade.[2][10] Despite his replacement, Abu Obaideh Qahtan remained a major field commander of the brigade.[2]
On 21 March 2016, the brigade and its ally, the Islamic Muthanna Movement, launched a major offensive against other rebel groups, aiming to take control of the Daraa Governorate.[13] While the two groups were initially able to take control of several villages and towns, opposition forces eventually pushed them back. At least two important brigade commanders were killed during the conflict,[10][14] among them Abu Tahrir, a Syria Revolutionaries Front defector.[14]
As a result of the failed offensive, the Islamic Muthanna Movement and the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade were severely weakened, leading to rumors they had merged.[15] On 24 May 2016, they officially united to form Jaish Khalid ibn al-Walid , or the Army of Khalid ibn al-Walid, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.[16][17]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ https://microsyria.com/2016/05/24/%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%88%D9%83-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%86%D9%89-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%AC/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
