Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz

Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz, originally formed as Ahrar al-Sharkas (Arabic: كتيبة أحرار ألشركس, The Free Circassian Battalion), was an armed group based in the Quneitra Governorate of Syria with some fighters in the Latakia Governorate. The group was made up of ethnic Circassians from Beer Ajam. The group came to prominence during the Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14).

Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz
كتيبة أحرار ألشركس
The group uses the flag of Adygea which is representative of Circassian identity
Leaders	Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy
Dates of operation	February 2013 — 2014 [1]
Headquarters	Beer Ajam, Quneitra Governorate
Active regions	Quneitra Governorate and Latakia Governorate
Part of	Ajnad al-Kavkaz (since 2014)
Allies	Al-Nusra Alwiya al-Furqan Free Syrian Army Islamic Front
Opponents	Syria Hezbollah
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14)

History

The group was founded by a local from Beer Ajam of Circassian descent who goes by the nom de guerre Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy who has expressed support for the Caucasus Emirate. In 2014 he declared allegiance to Ajnad al-Kavkaz, thus making Ahrar al-Sharkas part of it and moved some fighters to the Latakia Governorate to be closer to the central core of Ajnad al-Kavkaz.[2] After their declaration of allegiance to Ajnad Al-Kavkaz, Ajnad Al-Kavkaz officially recognized itself as active in the Quneitra Governorate.[3] The group chose to remain neutral in the conflict between ISIL and other rebel groups.

References

1. Mezghiche, Hamoudi (23 November 2014). "Syrian Revolution - Armed Groups: Jihadist groups in Syria".
2. ""Displaced Conflict": Ethnic Circassian Ahrar Al-Sharkas Joins Junud Al-Qawqaz". Chechens in Syria. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
3. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz: A Caucasus Emirate Group in Latakia".