Syrian Resistance
| Syrian Resistance المقاومة السورية |
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|---|---|
| Participant in Syrian Civil War | |
Syrian Resistance SSI and flag
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| Active | 2011[1] – present |
| Ideology | Syrian nationalism Marxism–Leninism |
| Leaders | Mihraç Ural |
| Headquarters | Latakia |
| Area of operations | Latakia Governorate, Homs Governorate,[2] Jisr al-Shughur District, Ariha District, Azaz District[3] |
| Strength | 2,000[4] |
| Allies | Syrian Armed Forces National Defence Force |
| Opponents | Free Syrian Army Al-Nusra Front Islamic State of Iraq and Levant |
| Battles and wars | |
The Syrian Resistance (Al Muqāwamat al-Sūriyah, Arabic: المقاومة السورية), formerly known as the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Liwa of Iskandarun(Arabic: الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير لواء اســكندرون), is a pro-government Syrian armed group operating in Northwest Syria, claiming a Marxist–Leninist ideology.[3]
Contents
History[edit]
The movement is led by Mihraç Ural, a Turkish Alawite who has Syrian citizenship.[5] According to Today's Zaman, Ural was the leader of a clandestine insurgent cell in Hatay Province called the Turkish Peoples' Liberation Party-Front Acilciler ("The Urgent Ones"). Zaman further alleged that Ural's group has sought to agitate Hatay's sizable Alawite population into confrontation with the Turkish authorities and has also recruited local Alawites to fight in Syria on behalf of the government.[6]
Though the group openly espouses a broadly-inclusive platform of Syrian nationalism in addition to secular leftism, it has been claimed that its primary focus is the defence of the Alawite and Twelver Shi’a religious minorities in the country.[3] The Syrian Resistance has been accused by the Syrian opposition of being a sectarian Alawite militia, and of having carried out bombings and attacks in Turkey and on villages in Syria.[7][8] However, Sheikh Muwaffaq al-Ghazal, a member of the Islamic Alawi Council, claims it has an inclusive national line regarding religion, race and gender.[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Lund, Aron (23 July 2013). "Gangs of Latakia: The Militiafication of the Assad Regime". Syria Comment. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ Fadel, Leith. "Syrian Army Captures Final Oil Well at Al-Sha’ar; Nusra Losing Ground in Idlib". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ a b c al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "A Case Study of "The Syrian Resistance," a Pro-Assad Militia Force". Syria Comment. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ^ Albayrak, Aydin. "Mihraç Ural, a man with a long history of terrorism". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- ^ "Mihraç Ural, a man with a long history of terrorism". Todayszaman.com. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Group tries to recruit Hatay Alevis into Assad army". Today's Zaman. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ "Rise of the militias". Now.mmedia.me. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ Josh Landis, Syria Comment, May 13,2013
- ^ "Syria: Secularism Takes a Backseat in Latakia". Al Akhbar English. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
External links[edit]
| Media from Commons | |
| News stories from Wikinews | |
- Syrian Resistance on Facebook (Arabic)
- THKP-C Acilciler blog