Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade

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Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade
لواء شهداء اليرموك
Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk

The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (

Syrian Opposition groups for dominance in the Yarmouk Basin. On 21 May 2016, it merged with other Islamist groups into the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army
.

History

Cooperation with other rebels

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

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[5][10][11]

The group gained attention when it abducted 21 Filipino UN soldiers in early March 2013,[12] releasing them on 10 March 2013.[13] The group justified the kidnapping by claiming that "UN is silent about the crimes of the regime against the Syrian people" and that it provided "aid to the criminal regime forces". After much criticism, however, the brigade changed its position, saying that it had attempted to protect the UN peacekeepers from the "barbaric bombing that Assad’s criminal gangs are launching against the western villages of Deraa province and all of Syria."[9]

At this time, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade still cooperated with other rebel groups in the war against the government: In course of the

First Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin.[9]

Allegiance to ISIL

In 2014, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade began facing accusations made by

Islamist
group since its foundation.

The group also went on to establish an Islamic court with its own police force called the "Diwan of

Niqabs
in areas under the control of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade it was not enforced for Niqabs to be worn but was encouraged and Niqabs were distributed. Alongside establishing a Diwan of Hisbah the group also established a Diwan of Services based on ISIL's, which released photos also modeled after ISIL's style of photo releases depicting themes of common life in areas under their control, nature, and fighting.

The rebel Army of Conquest and Southern Front imposed a siege on the group's territory causing the prices of meat, fuel and water to increase.[14]

In April and May 2015, the brigade, as well as Jaysh al-Jihad, launched attacks on al-Nusra. This fighting ended following arbitration from local groups.[5][9]

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.[2] 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.[1][11] Despite his replacement, Abu Obaideh Qahtan remained a major field commander of the brigade.[1]

On 21 March 2016, the brigade and its ally, the

Syria Revolutionaries Front defector.[16]

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.

companion of the Prophet Muhammad.[18][19]

Designation as a terrorist organization

Country Date References
 United States 9 June 2016 [20]

See also

  • List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War

References

  1. ^ a b c d Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (14 March 2016). "Liwa Shuhada' al-Yarmouk Appoints a New Leader". Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jabhat a-Nusra claims assassination of alleged pro-IS leader in Daraa province". Syria Direct. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Al-Nusra overtakes Hazm in Aleppo countryside". Al Monitor. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn (18 September 2015). "Liwa Shuhada' al-Yarmouk: history and analysis". Syria Comment. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Islamic State in Southern Syria" (PDF). Carter Center. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Is Islamic State coming to Israel?". The Economist. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Jabhat al-Nusra, IS clash in Daraa". Al Monitor. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. ^ "ISIS and Syria's Southern Front". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Liwa Shuhada' al-Yarmouk: History and Analysis". Syria Comment. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Jabhat al-Nusra, IS clash in Daraa". Al Monitor. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (26 March 2016). "GUEST POST: The Fitna in Deraa and the Islamic State Angle". Jihadology. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  12. ^ "The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and The Capture of the UN Troops". Syria Survey. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  13. ^ "UN peacekeepers kidnapped in Golan released". Al Jazeera English. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Talking to the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade".
  15. ^ Abo Bakr al Haj Ali. "Islamic State raises flags over towns in Daraa after fierce battles". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  16. ^ a b "The Military Commander of Shohadaa al-Yarmouk killed and six Elements Captured in Daraa". El-Dorar Al-Shamia. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Factions of Almuthana and martyrs of Yarmouk united after their losing in west of Daraa". Qasioun News. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  18. ^ "لواء شهداء اليرموك وحركة المثنى يندمجان ويشكلان (جيش خالد) · Micro Syria ميكروسيريا".
  19. ^ "Yarmouk Valley: The Formation of Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Waleed?". 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  20. ^ "State Department Terrorist Designation of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade". State.gov. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
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