Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa

Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa[1]
لواء ثوار الرقة
liwā' thūwwār ar-raqqah
Participant in Syrian Civil War

Logo of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa

Flag of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa
Active September 2012 – Present
Leaders Abu Diab  †[2]
Abu Issa[3]
Abu Saif[4]
Abu Dahash[5]
Area of operations Raqqa Governorate, Syria[1]
Aleppo Governorate, Syria[4]
Strength +800 [6]
Part of Free Syrian Army[7]
Euphrates Volcano[8]
Syrian Democratic Forces
Allies
Opponents
Battles and wars

Syrian Civil War

Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa (Arabic: لواء ثوار الرقة‎, liwā' thūwwār ar-raqqah; English: Raqqa Revolutionaries' Brigade) is a rebel group that has been active during the Syrian civil war.[12] It was formed in Raqqa Governorate in September 2012.[13] Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa wants Syria to become an undivided civil democratic state.[13]

History

The group was allied with Jabhat al-Nusra in Raqqa city for a while in late 2013, but by January 2014 it had broken away from Jabhat al-Nusra and itself led the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the city.[1][13] After ISIL expelled Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa and other rebel groups from Raqqa city, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa moved into the Raqqa Governorate countryside and allied itself with the Kurdish YPG.[13] In July 2014 the faction and 10 other groups threatened to leave Aleppo and Raqqa governorates if they were not aided by other rebels to fight ISIL.[14] In September 2014 Liwa Thwwar al-Raqqa joined the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room.[13] In 2015, it participated in the YPG offensive towards the Syrian border city of Tell Abyad. In June, fighters from Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa were seen hoisting the Syrian rebel flag near the Turkish border, whilst the group was also fighting ISIL in the southern city of Ayn Issa, on the road to Raqqa itself. Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa was able to grow considerably in size because of the influx of both rebels from Turkey and locals who wanted to fight ISIL. The current size of the brigade is unknown, but numbers in the hundreds. In October 2015, the group stated it received military equipment from the United States in order to fight ISIL north of Raqqa. It has stated it intends to capture the city of Raqqa from ISIL.[15]

In November 2015, the group merged with Tribes' Army to form Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa which became part of a greater coalition in northern Syria. However tensions between the Kurdish and Arab factions of the group grew after alleged Kurdish atrocities against the Arab populations of northern Syria. In response the Kurds with their Arab allies blockaded the region held by Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa, after ISIS attacks increased from the region held by Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa, which became susceptible to an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant attack in late December 2015. On 6 January 2016, the group issued a statement claiming it was disbanding as a consequence of the blockade, although the cause of the disbandment has been disputed.[16]

In late 2015, Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa reappeared, announcing it had decided to join Syrian Democratic Forces.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Simon, Alex (5 March 2014). "Al-Tamimi: ISIS claiming control in Yarmouk 'publicity stunt'". Syria Direct. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Leader of Raqqa Rebels brigade killed". ARA News. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Islamic State foiled in attempt to kidnap Syrian rebel leader in Turkey". The Guardian. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "FSA fighting alongside Kobane Kurds". NOW. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Kobane battles reunified Kurds and Arabs: Rebel leader". ARA News. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-kurds-look-take-raqqa-new-arab-force-allies-1064765056
  7. ↑ "Syria’s Raqqa in turmoil as violence increases". ARA News. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "YPG and FSA form a joint military chamber to combat ISIS in Syria". ARA News. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Syria rebels struggle for control over ISIL-held Raqqa". ARA News. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "A new dialogue and collaboration in northern Syria between kurds and rebels". The Arab Chronicle. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "#Syria: Liwa Thuwar #Raqqa (#FSA) rebels driving through Tall Abyad today, being cheered on by residents who stayed". Live UA Map. 16 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (29 April 2014). "Key updates on Albukamal (Abu Kamal)". Brown Moses Blog. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (14 September 2015). "Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa: History, analysis & interview". Syria Comment. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Rebels demand help as fighting rages against ISIS in Ghouta". The Daily Star. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "FSA spokesman confirms aid for 'decisive battle to liberate Raqqa'". Syria Direct.
  16. ↑ http://syriadirect.org/news/tribes%E2%80%99-army-disbands-in-north-amidst-accusations-of-ypg-blockade/
  17. ↑ "Ultimele stiri si informatii despre Liwa Thuwwar Al Raqqa". www.disperat.ro. Retrieved 17 January 2016.

External links

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