Syrian Islamic Liberation Front

the Syrian Civil War. At the end of 2012, it was one of the strongest military coalitions in Syria,^[7] representing up to half of the rebel forces.^[2]

Suqour al-Sham, Al-Tawhid Brigade and Jaysh al-Islam, the largest and most influential members of the Front, announced that they were joining the Islamic Front,^[8] greatly weakening SILF.^[9] On 25 November 2013, a statement appeared on the Front's website announcing that it was ceasing all operations.^[10] The Syrian Islamic Liberation Front was thought to be more moderate than the Ahrar al-Sham-led Syrian Islamic Front, and also closer Arab states of the Persian Gulf than the Syrian Islamic Front which was closer to Turkey and Qatar.^[11][12]

Suqour al-Sham Brigade. The coalition included around 20 Islamist groups and had tens of thousands of fighters active throughout much of Syria, overshadowing the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in some regions. While some member groups appeared to consider themselves members of both the Syrian Liberation Front and the FSA,^[13] Abu Issa said the group aimed to maintain brotherly relations with the FSA while declining to offer full support and criticising those leaders of the FSA that remained in Turkey.^[2]

Tawhid Brigade (Aleppo).^[9][14] Other prominent groups in the coalition included Liwa Dawud,^[15] the Deir ez-Zor Revolutionary Council (Deir ez-Zor), Tajamo Ansar al-Islam (Damascus), Amr Ibn al-Aas Brigade (Aleppo), al-Naser Salaheddin Brigade (Latakia),^[13] and the Conquest Brigade (Aleppo).^[9] These groups were geographically scattered, varied in size and influence, and were dependent on different sources of funding. It was unclear how effectively the coalition coordinated between the varying groups.^[13]

religious Muslim law was the point of reference for the group.^[13] In July 2013, the leader of the group called for sectarian attacks on Alawite homes and villages, but retracted the statement weeks later.^[17]