Al-Rahman Legion
| Al-Rahman Legion | |
|---|---|
| فيلق الرحمن Participant in the Syrian Civil War |
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Official logo of Al-Rahman Legion
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| Active | November 2013–present[1] |
| Ideology | Islamism[1] |
| Leaders | Abdul Nasr Shmeir (a.k.a. Abu Nasr)[1] |
| Area of operations | Eastern Ghouta and eastern Qalamoun, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria[1] |
| Strength | 2,000[2]-+3,000[1] |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army Unified Military Command of Eastern Ghouta[1] |
| Allies | |
| Opponents |
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| Battles and wars | |
The al-Rahman Legion (Arabic: فيلق الرحمن, Faylaq al-Rahman), also called the al-Rahman Corps, is an alliance of Islamist Free Syrian Army groups operating mostly in Eastern Ghouta, in the outskirts of Damascus, but also in eastern Qalamoun. It is the main rebel group in Jobar and have received BGM-71 TOW missiles.[7] The group's leader is Abd al-Nasr Shmeir, a captain who defected from the Syrian Army in early 2012.[1]
Contents
History[edit]
Since the death of Zahran Alloush there have been conflicts between Jaysh al-Islam and other members[which?] of the Unified Military Command of Eastern Ghouta, along with associated groups such as al-Nusra Front and its Jaish al-Fustat operations room. Ahrar ash-Sham have remained neutral.[8][9][10][11][12]
On 18 February 2016, Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union fighters based in eastern Ghouta announced the "full incorporation" of its fighters into al-Rahman Legion, though reiterating that its fighters based in the western Damascus suburbs of Darayya and Moadammiyyeh as well as in southern Damascus would still operate under the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union banner and were not a part of this merger.
On 26 April 2016 the 1st Brigade (then an FSA-affiliated group armed with TOW missiles) left the Southern Front and dissolved into the Legion.[13][14][15]
On 24 May 2016 leaders of Jaysh al-Islam & al-Rahman Legion met to sign a Qatari-backed deal to end hostilities after the East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016), supervised by Riyad Farid Hijab. But on 14 June 2016 clashes erupted again, with the al-Rahman Legion taking control of several zones previously held by Jaysh al-Islam in the southern part of Eastern Ghouta.[5]
On 21 October 2016, fighters from the al-Rahman Legion opened fire on protesters demanding the formation of a joint military operations room between Jaysh al-Islam and the Rahman Legion. Up to 5,000 people attended the protests throughout eastern Ghouta.[16] Less than a week later, the al-Majd Brigades seceded from the Rahman Legion, making it the 9th rebel group to leave the legion since the start of the war. Previously several of these groups have seceded in order to join the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union and the now defunct Jaysh al-Ummah.[17][18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Nicholas A. Heras (June 30, 2015). "Beating on Assad's door: Syrian militia fighter Abd al-Nasr Shmeir (Militant Leadership Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 6)". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ "Who are these 70,000 Syrian fighters David Cameron is relying on?". The Guardian. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Rebel allies fight each other in east Damascus: monitor NOW News, 1 March 2016
- ^ Rebel forces fight one another in rural Damascus Al-Masdar News, April 19, 2016
- ^ a b Army of Islam Urges Al-Rahman Legion to End its Attack on East Ghouta Enab Baladi, June 16, 2016
- ^ "Rebels take on ISIS in new Damascus front". The Daily Star. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "THE MODERATE REBELS: A GROWING LIST OF VETTED GROUPS FIELDING BGM-71 TOW ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES". Hasan Mustafas. 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Is Jabhat al-Nusra behind Ghouta demonstrations? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Aron Lund. "After Zahran: Rising Tension in the East Ghouta". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Rebel allies fight each other in east Damascus: monitor". 1 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Leith Fadel (19 April 2016). "Rebel forces fight one another in rural Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Albin Szakola (30 March 2016). "Rebel heavyweights clash outside Damascus". Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ بيان اندماج اللواء الأول العامل في دمشق مع فيلق الرحمن بسلاحه وعتاده الكامل. - YouTube. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Statement: First Brigade in Damascus has fully merged with al-Rahman Corps.". Beyond The Levant Agency. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ^ "Eastern Ghouta residents protest against rebels' rifts, demand unity". Zamanalwsl. 21 October 2016.
- ^ Syria_Rebel_Obs (25 October 2016). "EXCLUSIVE INFOGRAPHIC - How Faylaq ar-Rahman slowly disappearing in E-#Ghouta" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ https://rfsmediaoffice.com/en/2016/10/27/al-majd-brigades-make-dreams-syrian-people-true/#.WGkaQPmLSM8
