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Ahrar al-Sharqiya

Ahrar al-Sharqiya
تجمع احرار الشرقية
LeadersAbou Hatim Shaqra[1][2]
Abu Jaafar Jazra
Abu Jaafer Shaqra
Dates of operation2016–present
Split from Ahrar al-Sham[3]
Group(s)
  • Badr Martyrs' Battalion[1]
Active regionsAleppo Governorate, Syria
Turkey
IdeologyIslamism[1]
Anti-Kurdish sentiment
Sizeover 2,000
Part of Syrian National Army
  • First Legion[4]
Allies Turkey
Free Syrian Army
National Front for Liberation
Jaysh al-Islam (sometimes)
Opponents Syrian Arab Armed Forces
 Russia
Syrian Democratic Forces
Hezbollah
Syrian Resistance
Sinjar Alliance
International Freedom Battalion
Hamza Division (sometimes)[5]
Islamic State
Farouq Brigades (sometimes)[6]
Levant Front (sometimes)[7]
Jaysh al-Islam (sometimes)[8]
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War
Flag
Websitetwitter.com/ahraralsharqia

Tajammu Ahrar al-Sharqiya (Gathering of Free Men of the East), commonly referred to as Ahrar al-Sharqiya, is an active armed Syrian rebel group founded in 2016 by individuals exiled and displaced mostly from the Deir ez-Zor Governorate and other eastern provinces, such as the Hasakah Governorate, by ISIL, YPG and the Syrian government due to fighting that took place there between 2011 and 2014. Many fighters in Ahrar al-Sharqiya are former al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham members.

In October 2019, the relatively obscure group garnered international attention after its fighters murdered Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf, which the UN described as a war crime.[9][10]

Ahrar al-Sharqiya is reported to have supported Turkish-led military offensives in eastern Syria against the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish self-rule regions in northeastern Syria,[11] According to an unidentified activist in Afrin, Ahrar al-Sharqiya was among the Turkish-backed insurgent groups which volunteered to send fighters to Libya as part of a Turkish-led operation to aid the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in December 2019.[12]

  1. ^ a b c Fatma Ben Hamad. (21 October 2019). "Images document extrajudicial killings by Turkish-backed militia in Syria". France24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  2. ^ Tom Perry; Ellen Francis (20 December 2018). "Syria's Kurds reel from U.S. move, Assad seen planning next step". Reuters. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  3. ^ ""Ahrar al-Sharqiya Brigade": The Potential Spearhead of East of Euphrates Battles". Enab Baladi. 19 November 2018.
  4. ^ Image pbs.twimg.com
  5. ^ "Once again, clashes break out between Ahrar Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sharqiya in Al-Bab city - Aleppo24 English". en.aleppo24.com.
  6. ^ "FSA FACTIONS CLASH OVER STOLEN PROPERTY IN AFRIN". 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Clash between Bubena tribe and Ahrar al-Sham gangs in Afrin".
  8. ^ Aboufadel, Leith (6 November 2018). "Heavy clashes breakout between Turkish-backed rebels inside of Afrin region". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Turkey-backed Syrian rebels kill Kurdish politician, execute prisoners". The Defense Post. October 13, 2019.
  10. ^ Nebehay, Stephanie (October 15, 2019). "U.N. urges Turkey to investigate executions in Syria". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  11. ^ "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". VOA News. 9 October 2019.
  12. ^ Ragip Soylu; Harun al-Aswad (27 December 2019). "Turkey to send Syrian rebel fighters to battle Haftar in Libya". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 29 December 2019.

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