Jabhat Ansar al-Din

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Supporters of the Religion Front
Jabhat Ansar al-Din
جبهة أنصار الدين

Participant in Syrian Civil War
Emblem of the Ansar al-Deen Front.svg
Active 25 July 2014–present[1]
Ideology Salafist jihadism[2]
Area of operations Aleppo Governorate
Idlib Governorate
Homs Governorate
Hama Governorate
Latakia Governorate[3]
Part of Ansar al-Sharia[4]
Opponents Syrian Armed Forces
The Revolutionary Army (alleged)[5]
Battles and wars

Syrian Civil War

Jabhat Ansar al-Din[3] (Arabic: جبهة أنصار الدين‎, The Supporters of the Religion Front) is a jihadist alliance that announced itself on 25 July 2014 during the Syrian Civil War.[1] The alliance contains two groups: Harakat Sham al-Islam and Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya; it has declared that is not affiliated with any other "parties".[1] The Green Battalion was originally a signatory, but around October 2014 it swore allegiance to the leader of Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar and was integrated into that faction.[6] The alliance has attempted to maintain neutrality in the conflict between ISIL and other groups.[3]

The groups involved in the coalition have diverse memberships; Harakat Fajr Sham al-Islamiya numbers mostly Syrians from the Aleppo area,[7] while Harakat Sham al-Islam was formed around a core of Moroccan fighters,[8] the Green Battalion mainly had fighters from Saudi Arabia[8] and Jaish al-Mujahireen wal-Ansar was formed by Chechen and other Russian-speaking fighters.[9] On 23 September 2015, Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar left and joined Jabhat al-Nusra.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Syria Update: July 17 - 25, 2014". Institute for the Study of War Syria Updates. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014. 
  2. ^ "Control of Terrain in Syria: February 9, 2015" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015. the Aleppo Salafi Jihadist coalition Jabhat Ansar al-Din. 
  3. ^ a b c "Jabhat Ansar al-Din: Analysis and Interview". Syria Comment. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014. 
  4. ^ "Rebel and Islamist groups form (another) op room "Ansar Al-Shariah" to take Aleppo city and its countryside". Reddit. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015. 
  5. ^ "‫جيش الثوار - Timeline Photos - Facebook". facebook.com. 
  6. ^ "Video: Saudi Faction Swears Allegiance To Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar Emir". From Chechnya To Syria. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014. 
  7. ^ "Syria's Salafi Insurgents: the Rise of the Syrian Islamic Front" (PDF). Swedish Institute for International Affairs. March 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2014. 
  8. ^ a b "The Syrian rebel groups pulling in foreign fighters". BBC. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014. 
  9. ^ "Chechen commander forms 'Army of Emigrants,' integrates Syrian groups". Long War Journal. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014. 
  10. ^ "Insurgent group pledges allegiance to al Qaeda's Syria wing". Reuters. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015. 

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