The Jaysh Halab (Arabic: جيش حلب, lit. 'Army of Aleppo') was a coalition of Syrian rebel groups based in rebel-held areas inside the city of Aleppo, Syria. The coalition was created by Hashim al-Sheikh, the former general commander of Ahrar ash-Sham with the intent of unifying various rebel groups in Aleppo.[1] After the announcement, nothing was heard of the group until December 2016.
Army of Aleppo | |
---|---|
جيش حلب Jaysh Halab | |
Leaders | Hashim al-Sheikh ("Abu Jaber")[1]
(February 2016) |
Dates of operation |
|
Headquarters | Aleppo, Syria |
Active regions | Aleppo, Syria |
Allies | Army of Conquest Fatah Halab Jabhat Ansar al-Din |
Opponents | |
Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
Initial member groups
editThe joint operations room consisted of both Sunni Islamist and Salafist factions and some Free Syrian Army groups. On its formation on 6 February 2016, the former Ahrar ash-Sham commander issued an ultimatum that ordered 15 rebel factions to join the group within 72 hours.[1]
Re-activation
editOn 1 December 2016, during the Aleppo offensive, all rebel groups in southeastern Aleppo reportedly merged into the coalition replacing Fatah Halab in southeastern Aleppo.[6] A new commander, Abu Abdul Rahman Noor was named.[2] On 9 December a new emir was named, Abu Ashida'a[3]
The 2nd iteration of the group includes:[7]
- 1st Regiment
- Army of Mujahideen
- Elite Islamic Battalions
- Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement
- Sham Legion
- Levant Front
- Sultan Murad Division
- Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror Brigade
- Ahrar ash-Sham
- Abu Amara Battalions[8]
- Jaysh al-Islam
- Ashida'a Mujahideen Brigade
- Karm al-Jabal Martyrs Battalion[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Aleppo rebels rally around former Ahrar leader". Now News. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Factions in Aleppo announce forming the "Unified Army of Aleppo"". RFS Media Office. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b "New speech by Abu al-Abd Ashidaa, the new "emir of Aleppo" (can someone please translate?) • /r/syriancivilwar". 9 December 2016.
- ^ "أبو العبد أشداء (@join_alfateh1) - Twitter".
- ^ "izat on Twitter".
- ^ "Besieged Aleppo rebels unite under new Jaish Halab banner". Al-Masdar News. 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Aleppo Army infogrphic". Yalla Souriya. 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Charles Lister on Twitter".
- ^ Fadel, Leith (23 November 2016). "Four high-ranking jihadist commanders killed in Aleppo".