Euphrates Liberation Brigade

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade (Arabic: Liwa Tahrir al-Furat) is a mostly Arab militia that operates as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces' Manbij Military Council (MMC) in the Syrian Civil War.

Euphrates Liberation Brigade
Liwa Tahrir al-Furat
Participant in Syrian Civil War
Members of the militia with their flag
ActiveOctober 2016 – present
IdeologySyrian federalism
Democracy
Anti-racism
Anti-Islamism
LeadersIbrahim Semho (commander)
Enwer Xebat (founder)[1]
HeadquartersManbij
Size250+[1]
Part of Syrian Democratic Forces
Opponent(s) Islamic State
 Turkey and its Syrian allies
Battles and war(s)Syrian Civil War

History

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade was founded in Manbij as part of the MMC in October 2016. Originally 250 men strong,[1][3] the militia expanded over time, mostly recruiting Arabs from Manbij city and its surroundings.[4] Several of its fighters are former Free Syrian Army (FSA) members who abandoned the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad due the increasing Islamist radicalism among anti-government forces.[2] Regardless, the Begin–Sadat Center has considered the militia to be still part of the FSA.[5]

Soon after its formation, the Euphrates Liberation Brigade fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) west of Manbij during the Battle of al-Bab, in course of which it was allegedly bombed by the Turkish Air Force on 20 November.[6] In April 2017, elements of the Euphrates Liberation Brigade were among a contingent of 200 MMC fighters that were sent to al-Thawrah in order to help the SDF to capture the city from ISIL.[7] Under the command of Ibrahim Semho, the militia also took part in the following battle for ISIL's self-proclaimed capital Raqqa.[7] Other parts of the unit remained at the frontlines west of Manbij, where at least one of their fighters was captured by Turkish-backed rebels in May 2017.[8]

Ideology

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade has been set up from the outset as ethnically inclusivist and pro-democratic. Its stated aim is to help establish a federal, democratic Syria.[1] The militia is also opposed to radical Islamism.[2]

References
  1. Firat News Agency (3 October 2016). "Euphrates Liberation Brigade announces its establishment". Kurdish Info. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016.
  2. Aris Roussinos (19 September 2017). "Inside The Fight To Retake Raqqa From ISIS". Vice. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  3. "Euphrates Liberation Brigade announces its establishment". ANF News. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  4. Shawrash Khane (23 March 2017). "SDF: A future Syrian national army?". KurdishQuestion.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017.
  5. Burak Bekdil (10 October 2018). "Turkey's Syrian Quagmire". Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. Genevieve Casagrande (22 November 2016). "The Road to ar-Raqqah: Background on the Syrian Democratic Forces" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  7. "MMC and SDF liberated 2 km2 of al-Tabqa". Hawar News Agency. 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017.
  8. "4 SDF/YPG captured in North Aleppo by the FSA, including at least one Liwa Tahrir al-Furat member". 17 May 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
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