Army of Revolutionaries
| Army of Revolutionaries | |
|---|---|
|
Jaysh al-Thuwar Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
 Official logo of Jaysh al-Thuwar  Jaysh al-Thuwar flag | |
| Active | 3 May 2015 – present |
| Area of operations | |
| Strength | 3,000 fighters (claimed)[1] |
| Part of |
|
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | |
| Website |
jeshalthowar |
.svg.png){kind=small}
The Army of Revolutionaries (Arabic: جيش الثوار), or Jaysh al-Thuwar, is a People's Protection Units-allied armed rebel coalition, participating in the Syrian Civil War.
Established in May 2015, with presences in six provinces, it was considered an ambitious grouping uniting Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmens. With its stated aims to fight both the Syrian regime and ISIL, it was expected to become one of the more relevant rebel alliances in northern Syria, consolidating the democratic rebel spectrum.[1] It was considered as one of the "potential powerbrokers" in the Aleppo, Hama, Idlib, and Latakia Provinces.[6]
Though considering itself a part of the rebel mainstream and having turned down the U.S. Train-and-Equip-Program, Jaysh al-Thuwar has always been allied with the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). It therefore received neither Turkish nor U.S. support, and became embroiled in open conflict with both hard-line and more moderate Islamists.[1]
Subsequently, Jaysh al-Thuwar retreated from rebel-held areas and further deepened its bonds with the YPG. In October 2015, it became one of the constituents of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), increasingly integrating with the SDF's common frontlines against ISIL and other Islamist forces.[1]
History
Establishment
Established on 3 May 2015, many of its members belonged to the now defunct Hazzm Movement and the northern branch of the Syria Revolutionaries Front,[1] which were defeated by al-Nusra and allied forces in Idlib and Aleppo.[7] In an October 2015 publication, the Washington D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War considered Jaysh al-Thuwar as one of the "potential powerbrokers" in Aleppo province, where it is part of the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room, as well as in Hama, Idlib and Latakia provinces, though not in Homs province.[6]
The original founding groups were:[1]
- Northern Sun Battalion (Shams al-Shamal)
- Jabhat al-Akrad
- Homs Revolutionary Union (former)[8]
- Special Forces Brigade
- 777th Regiment (former)[8]
- 99th Brigade (part of the Syria Revolutionaries Front)
- Sultan Selim Brigade (part of the Syrian Turkmen Brigades) (former)[8]
- Seljuk Brigade
- Martyr Yusuf al-Quzhul Brigade
- Southern Storm Brigade
- Eagles of the Sunnah Brigade
- Truthful Promise Brigade
- Fighters for Justice Brigade
- Martyrs of Atareb Brigade (former)[8]
- Descendants of Othman Brigade (former)[8]
- Brigade 313 – Free Men of Aqrab (former)[8]
Battles and territorial presences
Jaysh al-Thuwar did not apply to join the American Train-and-Equip-Program because it declined to restrict itself to fighting ISIS. The Army subsequently released videos of them fighting both against the Syrian Army in Aleppo and the northern Homs pocket, as well as against ISIL in Mare', Kobanê and northern Raqqah.
It controlled territory to the west of Azaz, bordering the Kurdish-held Afrin Canton, and claimed further presences in the Rashidin neighborhood of Aleppo, as well as in Tell Malah and al-Ghab Plain areas in northern Hama, and sleeper cells in Manbij area.[1]
Integration into Syrian Democratic Forces
In spite of occasional denials, the coalition has always been closely allied with the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The coalition was therefore met with distrust by more Islamist rebel factions and became embroiled in open conflict with hard-line Islamists such as the al-Nusra Front.
The Army of Revolutionaries didn't qualify for any support by Turkey, but neither did it receive any U.S. support. With weaponry considered "sparse by even Syrian standards", the coalition early began to disintegrate.[1] Further deepening bonds with the YPG and other anti-ISIL forces, it established the Syrian Democratic Forces in October. Subsequently, its constituents became involved in clashes with Islamist FSA-groups of the Fatah Halab and Mare' operation rooms. According to observers, it therefore withdrew its presence from rebel-held areas, refocusing on the Syrian Democratic Forces' joint front lines.
Since the establishment of the SDF, additional groups of various sizes have joined JaT.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hasan Mustafa (16 November 2015). "An Analysis of Jaish al-Thuwar (The Army of Revolutionaries) – A Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces". Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- 1 2 "YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo". Middle East Eye. 29 November 2015.
- ↑ ""بركان الفرات" تسيطر على ثمان قرى في ريف مدينة تل أبيض بالرقة". ARA News. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ "Why Jaish al-Thuwar was bombarded by Turkey". Al-Monitor. 18 February 2016.
- ↑ "Rivals of ISIS Attack U.S.-Backed Syrian Rebel Group". NY Times. 31 July 2015.
- 1 2 Jennifer Cafarella; Genevieve Casagrande (7 October 2015). "Syrian Opposition Guide" (PDF). Backgrounder. Institute for the Study of War: 16, 20, 23, 25, 27. Note that ar-Raqqa province was not covered by the study.
- ↑ "Jaysh Al-Fateh Militants Behead a Man Accused of Spying". al-Masdar News. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "An Analysis of Jaish al-Thuwar (The Army of Revolutionaries) – A Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces - Hasan Mustafa". Hasan Mustafa. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
External links
- Official website (Arabic)
