13th Division (Syrian rebel group)

13th Division
الفرقة 13
Participant in the Syrian Civil War

Insignia of the 13th Division.
Active 2013[1]–Present
Ideology Islamic democracy
Secularism[2]
Leaders Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Al-Sa’oud[1]
Headquarters Ma'arrat al-Numan (2013–March 2016)[3]
Area of operations Idlib Governorate[2]
Hama Governorate
Aleppo Governorate[4]
Strength 1,800+ (own claim)[1]
Part of Free Syrian Army[2]
Syrian Revolutionary Command Council
Fatah Halab
Allies Qatar Qatar
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
Islamic Front
Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar
Al-Nusra Front (Southern Aleppo)[5]
Opponents Syrian Armed Forces
National Defense Force
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[1]
People's Protection Units[6]
Al-Nusra Front (from March 2016 in Maarrat al-Nu'man)[7]
Syrian Democratic Forces
Jund al-Aqsa
Battles and wars

Syrian Civil War

The 13th Division (Arabic: الفرقة 13‎) is a Syrian rebel group sanctioned by the Syrian National Council. It was among the first armed Syrian opposition groups to receive U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. The group's leader Ahmad Al-Sa’oud said during an interview that the missiles were provided by the Friends of Syria, which also (according to Al-Sa'oud) provided training on how to use the advanced weaponry.[2] According to a spokesperson for the FSA's Supreme Military Council, the 13th Division is funded by sources within Qatar and Saudi Arabia.[1]

History

The group was formed in 2013, after being incorporated into the Free Syrian Army.

In December 2013, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) overran a Division 13 base in Kafr Nabl, seizing ammunition and weaponry. This came after a history of clashes between the two groups. The following day, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Al-Sa’oud was ambushed and kidnapped in Taftanaz by ISIS while he was trying to negotiate for their return. He was released after two weeks. The group is currently fighting the Syrian government and ISIS.[1]

The group fought in Khan al-Asal, the Rashideen neighbourhood, and the Research Sciences Centre in Aleppo. In Idlib and Hama Governorates, the 13th Division fought at Mork, Khan Shaykhun, Heish, Qumeis, Baboulin, Wadi Al-Deif military base and Al-Hamdiyyeh military base.[4]

On 6 May 2015, along with 13 other Aleppo-based groups, joined the Fatah Halab joint operations room.

Structure

According to its leader, the 13th Division is split into 10 companies, with another 200 in support roles.[1]

Downfall

On 13 March 2016, al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa seized the headquarters of the 13th Division after an overnight battle for control of Maarrat al-Nu'man. Division 13 was involved in a truce with the Syrian army since February 27. Several fighters have deserted before the conflict with the Nusra began. Division 13 has confirmed that al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa captured all of their weapons. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 after local demonstrations used the Syrian independence flag, rather than the black flag of jihad.[9]

According to a report released by the Free Syrian Army, Jabhat al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa attacked their bases in Ma’arat al-Nu’man, killing 4 of their combatants and wounding as many as 20 others during a fierce battle between the groups. The Division 13 members stated that they could not hold their ground against al-Qaeda militants, so they surrendered two of their storage facilities that allegedly stored U.S. manufactured TOW anti-tank missiles.[10]

Though attacking them in Maarrat al-Nu'man, al-Nusra co-operating with the `13th Division in Southern Aleppo.[11]

Stance on Israel

According to its leader, the group supports the idea of returning all Syrian land occupied by Israel to Syria.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Syria rebel recounts his time in an ISIL jail". Al Jazeera English. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "U.S.-Armed Syrian Rebel Group Seeks ‘All Syrian Land Occupied by Israel’". Free Beacon. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Nusra captures Division 13 headquarters in Ma’arat Al-Nu’man". Al-Masdar News. 13 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Exclusive interview with Ahmad Al-Sa’oud, head of Division 13, one of the 9 factions given access to TOW missiles". Tahrir Souri. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  5. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/4dc8zg/relatively_moderate_rebels_fsa_13th_alqaeda_hug/
  6. ↑ "FSA Division 13 trying to resist SDF/YPG on Kaljibrin - Ayn Daqnah front". Youtube. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Al-Qaeda clashes with U.S.-backed FSA rebels in Syria’s Idlib". ARA News. 13 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Rebels say US-made missiles turning tide against regime". AFP. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Fadel, Leith. "Nusra captures Division 13 headquarters in Ma'arat Al-Nu'man". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  10. ↑ Fadel, Leith. "Rebel infighting results in Nusra capturing U.S. manufactured missiles". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  11. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/4dc8zg/relatively_moderate_rebels_fsa_13th_alqaeda_hug/

External links

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