Seljuk Brigade
| Seljuk Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Selçuklular Tugayı | |
 Flag of the Seljuk Brigade | |
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | 2013 – Present |
| Active regions | Aleppo Governorate Raqqa Governorate Hasakah Governorate |
| Part of |  Free Syrian Army
|
| Allies |  Turkey (formerly)
 People's Protection Units[4] |
| Opponents |  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[5] |
The Seljuk Brigade (Turkish: Selçuklular Tugayı, Arabic: لواء السلاجقة), is a Syrian Turkmen rebel group participating in the Syrian civil war, named after the Seljuk Turks.
History
The Seljuk Brigade was founded in early 2013 in the northern Aleppo countryside by Colonel Talal Ali Silo and was temporary a part of the Suleyman Shah Brigade.
It was initially based in the mainly-Turkmen village of al-Rai, before its capture by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in January 2014.[6] As with the other Syrian Turkmen Brigades, the group was supplied and armed by Turkey, although tensions occurred between them after the capture of al-Rai due to Turkey favouring the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Brigade in Jarabulus, sending a limited amount of arms to the Seljuk Brigade.[7]
It then joined Army of Revolutionaries in August 2015 which then joined the Syrian Democratic Forces in October 2015.[4] The group's commander, Talal Silo, was present at the SDF formation announcement; furthermore, he announced the SDF offensive on al-Hawl.[1]
Unlike other Turkmen rebel groups, they are allied with the Kurdish People's Protection Units. The Seljuk Brigade in Manbij condemned the Turkish military intervention in Syria in late August 2016.[8]
On 10 September 2016 one of the brigade's commanders, Hani al-Mullah, died of a gunshot to the head in the town of Tell Abyad. Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently claimed that his death was the result of suicide, although other sources dispute this and allege that the killing is an assassination, either by the National Intelligence Organization or by ISIL militants.[9] As a result, a curfew was imposed in Tell Abyad.[2]
References
- ^ a b "An Analysis of Jaish al-Thuwar (The Army of Revolutionaries) – A Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces". 16 November 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ a b "The killing of a senior commander in the Syrian Democratic Forces and news about suicides". All4Syria. 10 September 2016.
- ^ http://aranews.net/2016/08/conflict-us-led-coalition-allies-increases-one-turkish-soldier-killed/
- ^ a b "Day: December 16, 2015 Opposition turmoil". peacefare.net. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "A Frontline Report: The Ground War Against the Islamic State". Combating Terrorism Center. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Shepherd town ... between «Daesh» and «Seljuk»". Al-Akhbar. 31 January 2014.
- ^ "SDF Spokesman: We may be up against Turkey and its affiliates in al-Bab". ANF News. 18 October 2016.
- ^ "Conflict between US-led coalition allies increases, one Turkish soldier killed". ARA News. 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Killing of Turkmen Commanders in Syria Complicates IS Fight". VOA News. 17 September 2016.
