Jabhat Ansar al-Islam

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.

Not to be confused with Ansar al-Islam.
Jabhat Ansar al-Islam
Supporters of Islam Front
جبهة أنصار الإسلام
Leaders
  • Abu Muhammad al-Jolani[1]
  • Abu al-Majd al-Jolani (POW)[2]
  • Bashar Abu Shihab (POW)[3]
  • Abu Mu'adh al-Agha (spokesman of Tajamu Ansar al-Islam, 2012–13)[4]
Dates of operation8 August 2012 – late 2013 (Tajamu Ansar al-Islam)
31 March 2014 – present (Jabhat Ansar al-Islam)
Group(s)Jabhat Ansar al-Islam:[5]

Former, Tajamu Ansar al-Islam:

Active regions
IdeologySunni Islamism[2][6]
Part of
Allies
OpponentsSyrian Armed Forces Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War

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.[2]

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).[4]

In late 2013, Tajamu Ansar al-Islam fell apart due to differences and disputes between its component groups.[5]

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.[5]

On 21 February 2015, the group announced the creation of a branch in the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria.[5]

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.[3]

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (6 February 2015). "ISIS and Syria's Southern Front". Middle East Institute.
  3. Joško Barić. "Syrian War Daily – 30th of May 2018".
  4. "A spokesman for the Gathering of Supporters of Islam to Orient: Daraya became the regime's node". Orient News. 1 February 2013.
  5. "Jabhat Ansar al-Islam announces establishment of a sector in Idlib". Al-Souria. 21 February 2015.
  6. "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  7. "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.
  8. "Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  9. "Dead and wounded in clashes between two factions revolutionists north of Quneitra". All4Syria. 7 April 2017.
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