Ahrar al-Sharqiya
Ahrar al-Sharqiya | |
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تجمع احرار الشرقية | |
Leaders | Abou Hatim Shaqra[1][2] Abu Jaafar Jazra Abu Jaafer Shaqra |
Dates of operation | 2016–present |
Split from | ![]() |
Group(s) |
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Active regions | Aleppo Governorate, Syria Turkey |
Ideology | Islamism[1] Anti-Kurdish sentiment |
Size | over 2,000 |
Part of | ![]()
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Allies | ![]() Syrian Civil War
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Flag | ![]() |
Website | twitter |
Tajammu Ahrar al-Sharqiya (Gathering of Free Men of the East), commonly referred to as Ahrar al-Sharqiya, is an active armed
In October 2019, the relatively obscure group garnered international attention after its fighters murdered
Ahrar al-Sharqiya is reported to have supported Turkish-led military offensives in eastern Syria against the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish self-rule regions in northeastern Syria,[11] According to a unidentified activist in Afrin, Ahrar al-Sharqiya was among the Turkish-backed insurgent groups which volunteered to send fighters to Libya as part of a Turkish-led operation to aid the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in December 2019.[12]
Background
Ahrar al-Sharqiya originated as a unit of Ahrar al-Sham in Deir ez-Zor and continued to function under the banner of Ahrar al-Sham even after the group was expelled from eastern Syria along with their allies including al-Nusra to Idlib and took part in battles against the Syrian government and their allies until 2016 when the group separated itself from Ahrar al-Sham to take part in Operation Euphrates Shield.[13]
The group was announced by al-Nusra's former lead
Despite tensions with ISIL, Ahrar al-Sharqiya was reported to be part of a network along with the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, helping smuggle ISIL members from Eastern Syria to rebel held areas such as Idlib, whilst also profiting from smuggling fees.[17]
According to
History
On 16 September 2016, Ahrar al-Sharqiya announced that they refuse to cooperate with US forces in fighting ISIL during
In September 2016 members of the group taunted, insulted and verbally attacked American forces in al-Rai embedded with the
On January 25, 2017, Ahrar al-Sharqiya executed a man near Jarabulus, accusing him of spying for the Syrian Democratic Forces.[21]
After taking control of Afrin, fighters from the group allegedly destroyed a liquor store, and 6 fighters and their families from the group reportedly defected to SDF after taking over the area due to disillusionment.[22]
On 25 March 2018, a day after taking control of Afrin, Ahrar al-Sharqiya and the Hamza Division clashed in Afrin after the Hamza Division killed an Ahrar al-Sharqiya commander, Ahrar al-Sharqiya also claimed the Hamza Division was looting and stealing on western instruction, during the fighting Ahrar al-Sharqiya seized several checkpoints from the Hamza Division and captured up to 100 fighters from the group.[23]
On 26 March 2018, a day after clashing with the Hamza Division, Ahrar al-Sharqiya stormed the headquarters of the Hamza Division and arrested over 200 fighters from the Hamza Division afterwards.[24]
In April 2018, several Hamza Division members were taken captive by Ahrar al-Sharqiya in Afrin until Turkish authorities intervened and settled the tensions between the Hamza Division and Ahrar al-Sharqiya.[25]
In July 2018, Ahrar al-Sharqiya began a campaign in Afrin encouraging women to wear the
In October 2018, members from the group reportedly coordinated with Turkish authorities to arrest an ISIL member being treated in a hospital in the city of Mersin in Turkey.[27]
In November 2018, Turkish forces and allied FSA groups carried out an operation against the Sharqiya Martyrs, a unit belonging to Ahrar al-Sharqiya consisting of 200 fighters, accusing them of not following Turkish orders and committing abuses.[28][29]
On 9 January 2019, the Gathering of the Eastern Martyrs which is affiliated with Ahrar al-Sharqiya claimed responsibility for an IED attack on an SDF humvee in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[30]
On 12 January 2019, unknown gunmen killed for 4 members of the Gathering of the Eastern Martyrs at a checkpoint in a village near al-Rai.[31]
On 25 January 2019, a fight broke out between an arms dealer and Ahrar al-Sharqiya; in the fight the arms dealer was killed while two of his family members were wounded and two Ahrar al-Sharqiya members were also wounded.[32]
On 5 February 2019, Ahrar al-Sharqiya reportedly clashed with the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in Afrin; the reason for the fight is unknown and heavy weapons were reportedly used.[33]
In June 2019, the group sent reinforcements from Afrin to Idlib and Hama to help other rebel groups in the area repel a Syrian government-led offensive against rebel-held areas that began in April.[34][35]
On 12 October 2019, fighters from Ahrar al-Sharqiya taking part in a Turkish-led military offensive in eastern Syria against the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish self-rule regions in northeastern Syria,
In 2021 a report by the SOHR stated that Ahrar al-Sharqiya members killed a civilian due to refusing to pay off the debt of a construction worker, in response Anrar al-Shaqiya responded by summarily executing the construction worker by shooting him in the head, and dumping his body in Tel Diyab village.[39]
Relationship with other groups
The group has participated in Turkish led operations against
References
- ^ a b c Fatma Ben Hamad. (21 October 2019). "Images document extrajudicial killings by Turkish-backed militia in Syria". France24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ Tom Perry; Ellen Francis (20 December 2018). "Syria's Kurds reel from U.S. move, Assad seen planning next step". Reuters. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ ""Ahrar al-Sharqiya Brigade": The Potential Spearhead of East of Euphrates Battles". Enab Baladi. 19 November 2018.
- ^ Image pbs.twimg.com
- ^ "Once again, clashes break out between Ahrar Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sharqiya in Al-Bab city - Aleppo24 English". en.aleppo24.com.
- ^ "FSA FACTIONS CLASH OVER STOLEN PROPERTY IN AFRIN". 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Clash between Bubena tribe and Ahrar al-Sham gangs in Afrin".
- ^ Aboufadel, Leith (6 November 2018). "Heavy clashes breakout between Turkish-backed rebels inside of Afrin region". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Turkey-backed Syrian rebels kill Kurdish politician, execute prisoners". The Defense Post. October 13, 2019.
- ^ Nebehay, Stephanie (October 15, 2019). "U.N. urges Turkey to investigate executions in Syria". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ a b c "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". VOA News. 9 October 2019.
- ^ a b Ragip Soylu; Harun al-Aswad (27 December 2019). "Turkey to send Syrian rebel fighters to battle Haftar in Libya". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ ""Ahrar al-Sharqiya Brigade": The Potential Spearhead of East of Euphrates Battles". Enab Baladi. November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Syrie: Ahrar al-Sharqiya, ces anciens d'al-Nosra devenus supplétifs de la Turquie". Francesoir. 3 May 2018.
- ^ "Which are the Jihadist Groups Attacking Afrin and the Forces Behind them? – Information Center of Afrin Resistance". icafrinresist.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ "Remnants Of The Deiri Opposition: Contention And Controversy In North Aleppo". bellingcat. June 25, 2019.
- ^ "Rebels make thousands smuggling ISIL fighters across Syria". The National. 7 February 2018.
- ^ "(S.A.) and (H.A.) .. from ISIS members in Deir Ezzor to fighters in the ranks of "Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah" in Afrin • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". December 14, 2019.
- ^ Aboufadel, Leith (September 16, 2016). "Islamist rebels refuse US help against ISIS in northern Aleppo". Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ Weiss, Michael (30 September 2016). "Syrian Rebels Taunt U.S. Troops". The Daily Beast.
- ^ "Graphic: Turkish-backed group executes local man accused of spying for Kurds". January 25, 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ Wilgenburg, Wladimir van (4 February 2018). "Disillusioned jihadist Ahrar al-Sharqiya members defect to SDF-backed council". The Region. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ Adra, Zen (March 25, 2018). "Afrin: Tensions rise as Turkish-backed militia caught in infighting". Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ Aboufadel, Leith (March 26, 2018). "Trouble in paradise: FSA group storms base of allied faction in Afrin, arrests 200 fighters (video)". Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "The issue of keeping the FSA under control". Hürriyet Daily News.
- ^ "Culture clash: Campaign in Syria's Afrin tells women to cover up". Middle East Eye.
- ^ "Al-Ahrar al-Sharqiya gathering arrests Islamic State member in hospital, Turkey". SMART News Agency. 9 October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Çand û Huner".
- ^ Aboufadel, Leith (November 20, 2018). "Rebel forces claim 25 Turkish soldiers, rival fighters killed in northern Aleppo". Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Image Archived 2019-04-16 at the Wayback Machine pbs.twimg.com
- ^ Barić, Joško (January 12, 2019). "Syrian War Daily – 12th of January 2019". Syrian War Daily. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "عفرين.. اشتباكات بين أحرار الشرقية وتاجر سلاح توقع قتيلاً وجرحى". www.zamanalwsl.net.
- ^ "Update: Turkish-backed rebel groups use heavy weapons to attack one another in Afrin". February 5, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ al-Khateb, Khaled (September 5, 2019). "Despite fresh forces, Syrian opposition losing ground in Idlib". Al-Monitor.
- ^ "Remnants Of The Deiri Opposition: Contention And Controversy In North Aleppo". Bellingcat. June 25, 2019.
- ^ "Money, hatred for the Kurds drives Turkey's Syrian fighters". Associated Press. 15 October 2019.
- ^ "For Syrian Kurds, a leader's killing deepens sense of U.S. betrayal". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "Syrian-Kurdish politician was executed by Turkey-backed forces, new evidence suggests". Morning Star Online. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "In cold blood | "Ahrar al-Sharqiya members kill civilian for demanding his finance dues in Ras al-Ain countryside (Sere Kaniye). • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Jaish Al-Islam & Ahrar al-Sharqiya comment over their dispute in Afrin". Call Syria. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Commander of war criminal organization in Syria graduates from university in Turkey". Bianet.
- ^ "2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Turkey". Retrieved 16 April 2023.