The Hamza Division (Arabic: فرقة الحمزة; Firqat al-Hamza) was a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. It was based in Inkhil, Daraa Governorate. It was formed on 8 April 2013 by Colonel Saber Safar as the "Hamza Brigade".[2] It was composed of six subunits.[3] The group received U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. It was a member of the Daraa Military Council and the Southern Front.
| Hamza Division | |
|---|---|
| فرقة الحمزة Firqat al-Hamza | |
| Leaders | Col. Saber Safar[1] |
| Dates of operation | 8 April 2013 – 31 July 2018[2] |
| Group(s) |
|
| Headquarters | Inkhil, Syria[3] |
| Active regions | |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army
|
| Opponents | Syrian Armed Forces Islamic State |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War
|
History
editThe group joined the First Army on 1 January 2015.[4] In mid-2015 the 1st Army disbanded, although the Hamza Division continued to use its imagery until 2016.[3]
On 22 September 2016, 9 commanders in the Hamza Division were assassinated in a bombing in Inkhil.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Three important Free Syrian Army factions decided, at this 2015 new year, to create the First Army". SRO. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ a b Lucas Winter. "A MODERN HISTORY OF THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN DARAA" (PDF). Foreign Military Studies Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. Hasan Mustafas. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ a b "3 فصائل مقاتلة تعلن اندماجها الكامل وتشكيل "الجيش الأول"". SOHR. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "Hamza Band in Daraa mourns nine leading Angel explosion". Enab Baladi. 22 September 2016.