Ahmed Berri (Arabic: أحمد بري) is the Chief of Staff of the Free Syrian Army. Berri was appointed to the position of Chief of Staff in October 2014, taking over from Abdul-Ilah al-Bashir. In December 2014, he was replaced by Brigadier General Abdelkarim al-Ahmed. In July 2015, after a dispute with the Supreme Military Council, the Syrian National Coalition instructed Berri to return as head of the FSA General Staff. However, his position is not recognised by the Supreme Military Council.[3]
Ahmed Berri | |
|---|---|
 Berri in 2016 | |
| Native name | أحمد بري |
| Allegiance |  Syria (until 2012)  Free Syrian Army (2012–present) |
| Service | Free Syrian Army |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Battles / wars | Syrian Civil War |
Background
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2015) |
Syrian Civil War
editSince 2012, Berri was commander of the infamous Hama Military Council. Free Syrian Army forces under its command committed the Aqrab massacre in December 2012, resulting in 125-300 civilians killed, most of them from the Alawite minority.[4][5][6] On December 31, 2013, while on his way to Taftanaz, he was arrested with two of his soldiers at Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's checkpoint and was put near Saraqeb, a city in northern Idlib. Following Idlib Military Council's push for his release and a demonstration of people in Maaret al-Numan, he was set free in Hama.[7]
References
edit- ^ "U.S.-backed rebels team with Islamists to capture Syrian city". Miami Herald. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Regime-held hospital comes under fire from Syrian rebels". alaraby.co.uk. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Syrian rebel groups launch military council in southern Turkey". Hurriyet Dailynews. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ Up to 200 hurt in attack on Syrian Alawite village – activists. Reuters (6 December 2012).
- ^ Mackey, Robert. (18 December 2012) Accounts of a Siege in Syria Differ on Rebel YouTube Channels and British Television. The New York Times.
- ^ 125 victims in Syria Alawite bombing. News.com.au. Australian Associated Press, 12 December 2012
- ^ "Under Pressure, ISIS Releases Its First FSA Prisoner". syriadeeply.org. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.