Elite Army (Syrian rebel group)

The Elite Army (Arabic: جيش النخبة‎‎: Jaysh al-Nukhba), formerly called the Liberation Army (Arabic: جيش التحرير‎‎: Jaysh al-Tahrir), is a group operating in the Hama and Aleppo Governorates. The group was formed from 5 units, some of which received BGM-71 TOW missiles from the United States.[8]

Elite Army
جيش النخبة‎
Jaysh al-Nukhba
Leaders
  • Mohammed al-Ghabi (DOW)[1]
  • Alaa Abdel Hay al-Ahmad[2]
  • Raed al-Elewi[3]
  • Mohammed Ahmed al-Sayed[4] (artillery regiment and overall commander since January 2017)
  • Zakaria al-Ahmad[4] (media office director)
Dates of operation24 February 2016 – present[5]
Group(s)
  • Levant Front (Hama)
  • 9th Brigade
  • 115th Brigade
  • Northern Sector (145th Brigade) (part of the SNA and not the NFL)

Former:

  • 46th Division
  • 312th Division
  • 314th Division
Headquarters
Active regionsNorthwestern Syria
Size3,000[4] (self-claim, 2017)
Part of
Allies
Opponents
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War

History

In July 2016 the al-Nusra Front raided the Liberation Army's headquarters in Kafr Nabl and captured 40 fighters, including the group's commander, Mohammed al-Ghabi. They also seized a number of weapons.[1]

The group participated in the Turkish military intervention in Syria which began with the capture of Jarabulus. Liberation Army fighters captured the village of Amarnah from the Syrian Democratic Forces and took more than 8 SDF fighters captive.[9] Since October 2016, the Liberation Army operates a prisoner-of-war camp in the northern Aleppo Governorate, which holds around 300 prisoners of war from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, implementing Sharia and capital punishment.[10] On 15 October, Mohammed al-Ghabi was severely injured by an ISIL car bombs and died 20 days later. A new commander was named on 10 November.[2]

On 7 January 2017, the Liberation Army announced that it has changed its name to the Elite Army and a new commander was appointed.[4]

After internal disputes within the group in early 2017, the 46th, 312th, and 314th Divisions left the Elite Army and formed a new group called the 2nd Army.[11]

In May 2018, along with 10 other rebel groups in northwestern Syria, the Elite Army formed the National Front for Liberation, which was officially announced on 28 May.[7]

References
  1. "Nusra captures leader, fighters of Western-backed rebels in northern Syria". Reuters. 3 July 2016.
  2. "(PLA) chooses a new leader created for Gabi". All4Syria. 11 November 2016.
  3. "Hero's welcome for first Russian warplanes back from Syria". The National. 15 March 2016.
  4. ""Liberation Army" declares restructured and changed its name to the "elite army"". SMART News Agency. 8 January 2017.
  5. "Five Factions Merge under the Name "Jaish Al Tahrir"". RFS Media Office. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  6. Hogir Nejjae (24 January 2018). "Kurdish National Council participates in aggression against Afrin". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  7. "11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"". Syria Call. 28 May 2018.
  8. "THE MODERATE REBELS: A GROWING LIST OF VETTED GROUPS FIELDING BGM-71 TOW ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES". Hasan Mustafas. 5 October 2015.
  9. "Two US-backed groups clash in northern Syria". The Long War Journal. 29 August 2016.
  10. "Syrian rebels Jaysh al-Tahrir holds Isis fighters in secret prison 'internment' camp". IB Times. 13 October 2016.
  11. Ahmad Zakariyah (23 June 2017). "Commander Of The FSA's Jaish Al-Thani : Our Objective Is To Form A Unified National Army To Ensure Safety In All Syrian Territory". Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office.


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