Youth of Sunna Forces
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2014) |
| Youth of Sunna Forces | |
|---|---|
| قوى شباب السنة Quwaa Shabaab al-Sunnah | |
| Leaders | First faction:
Second faction: |
| Headquarters | Bosra, Daraa Governorate |
| Active regions | Daraa Governorate Quneitra Governorate[4] |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army Southern Front[4] |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
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The Youth of Sunna Forces, formerly the Youth of Sunna Division and the Youth of Sunna Brigade, is a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army's Southern Front that was armed with U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. It operates in the Daraa and Quneitra Governorates.[4]
History
On 2 August 2016 fighters from the group raided the house of its deputy leader Mohammad Tohme and proceeded beat his father and shot his brother. In response, the next day Tohme loyalists stormed its own headquarters in Bosra and deposed Ahmad al-Auda, the leader of the group. Auda and his followers fled and was subsequently placed under house arrest, while the military council handed over the group's command to Tohme and his deputy, Bilal Droubi. Some rebel supporters called this a coup d'etat while others declared their support and defended the toppling of corrupt leaders.[1]
Newly-joined groups
On 22 August 21 additional Southern Front factions joined the Youth of Sunna Division under the command of colonel Nassim Abu Ezza, the groups are as follows:[2]
- Hamza Division: a rebel group based in Inkhil. It was formed on 8 April 2013 by colonel Saber Safar[5] as the "Hamza Brigade".[6] The group also received U.S.-made TOW anti-tank missiles. It was a member of the Daraa Military Council and is composed of 6 brigades.[7] It joined the First Army on 1 January 2015.[8]
- Zaidi Cavalry Division
- Horan Brigade
- Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz Brigade
- Spears of Alwali Brigade
- Martyr Yousef the Great Brigade
- Martyr Ahmed al-Khalaf Brigade
- Easy Horan Commandos Brigade
- Zaidi Knights Brigade
- Shield of Lajat Brigade
- Abu Saddam Brigade
- Martyr Ahmed al-Miqdad
- Khalid ibn Walid Brigade
- Banner of the Martyrs of Bosra
- Martyr Abdul Razzaq Azaaba Brigade
- Martyr Zuhair al-Zoubi Brigade
- Martyr Akhawsh Brigade
- Descendants of Ali Brigade
- Martyr Obeida Alissa Brigade
- Medical Battalion
War crimes
On 28 February 2016, the diplomat for the town of Abtaa, Colonel Zidan Nsierat, was disappeared into a prison in Bosra held by the Youth of Sunna Brigade. Three days later, he was killed being tortured in the prison, and the group refused to hand over his corpse to his family. Similar incidents of deaths due to prisoner abuse by the Youth of Sunna was reported in the town.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d ""Military coup" in rebel-held Syria town". Now News. 4 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "21 military formations in Daraa unite under the name of the Youth of Sunna Forces". El-Dorar. 22 August 2016.
- ^ "21 military factions merge into "Shabab alSunna Forces"". Yalla Souriya. 22 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ "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 MODERN HISTORY OF THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN DARAA
- ^ "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ "3 فصائل مقاتلة تعلن اندماجها الكامل وتشكيل "الجيش الأول"". SOHR. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "Detainees Disappeared and Tortured by an Armed Opposition Faction in Daraa". Syrian Network for Human Rights. 12 October 2016.
