Jabhat Ansar al-Islam
| Jabhat Ansar al-Islam Supporters of Islam Front | |
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جبهة أنصار الإسلام Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
 Logo of Jabhat Ansar al-Islam | |
| Active |
8 August 2012 – late 2013 (Tajamu Ansar al-Islam) |
| Ideology | Sunni Islamism[1][2] |
| Groups |
Jabhat Ansar al-Islam:[3]
Former, Tajamu Ansar al-Islam:
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| Leaders | |
| Area of operations |
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| Part of |
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| Originated as | Tajamu Ansar al-Islam (Gathering of Supporters of Islam, 2012–13)[3] |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | |
The Supporters of Islam Front (Arabic: جبهة أنصار الإسلام; Jabhat Ansar al-Islam), originally formed as the Gathering of Supporters of Islam (Arabic: تجمع أنصار الإسلام; Tajamu Ansar al-Islam) in August 2012, is an independent Sunni Islamist Syrian rebel group active in the Quneitra and Daraa Governorates.
Jabhat Ansar al-Islam is among dozens of Syrian rebel groups that have in the past been supplied with US-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles and Soviet-made 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS with US approval.[8]
Ideology
Abu al-Majd al-Jolani, commander of Jabhat Ansar al-Islam, stated during an interview on 14 July 2014 that he wanted to establish an Islamic state based on Sharia, and opposed both democracy and a caliphate similar to one proclaimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[1]
History
The group was originally formed as Tajamu Ansar al-Islam, or the Gathering of Supporters of Islam, a coalition of several Sunni Islamist groups in Damascus and the Rif Dimashq Governorate, announced on 8 August 2012. The coalition initially consisted of the Habib al-Mustafa Brigade, the Companions Battalions, Brigade of Islam, Criterion Brigade, Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib Battalion, Shield of al-Sham Battalions, and the Damascus branch of the Descendants of the Prophet Brigade. The group took part in the rebel capture of the Marj al-Sultan heliport on 25 November 2012 and the Battle of Daraya, part of the Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–February 2013).[6]
In late 2013, Tajamu Ansar al-Islam fell apart due to differences and disputes between its component groups.[3]
On 31 March 2014, Jabhat Ansar al-Islam was formed in the Damascus and Quneitra countryside by the Usama ibn Zayd Brigade, Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam Brigade, and the Battalion of the Chargers. Some time after its formation, the group established a branch in southern Damascus.[3]
On 21 February 2015, the group announced the creation of a branch in the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria.[3]
On 6 April 2017, clashes erupted between Jabhat Ansar al-Islam and the Syrian Revolutionaries Front in the northern Quneitra countryside, which resulted in 7 rebels being killed. Government forces shelled the area on the same day, which resulted in a ceasefire between the two rebel groups.[9]
On 30 May 2018, two commanders of Jabhat Ansar al-Islam, Abu al-Majd al-Jolani and Bashar Abu Shihab, were captured by groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army in the Quneitra countryside while attempting to surrender to the Syrian Army carrying around $300,000.[5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (6 February 2015). "ISIS and Syria's Southern Front". Middle East Institute.
- 1 2 3 "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jabhat Ansar al-Islam announces establishment of a sector in Idlib". Al-Souria. 21 February 2015.
- 1 2 "Syria's New Super-Opposition Coalition Unites Moderates, Islamists -- And Leaves US With Limited Allies". International Business Times. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- 1 2 Joško Barić. "Syrian War Daily – 30th of May 2018".
- 1 2 3 "A spokesman for the Gathering of Supporters of Islam to Orient: Daraya became the regime's node". Orient News. 1 February 2013.
- ↑ "Free army factions in the south announce the formation of the "National Front for the Liberation of Syria"". El-Dorar al-Shamia. 22 July 2017.
- ↑ "Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ "Dead and wounded in clashes between two factions revolutionists north of Quneitra". All4Syria. 7 April 2017.
