Ahl Al-Sham (Arabic: غرفة أهل الشام) was a joint command structure and umbrella organization of four main Syrian opposition factions operating in Aleppo, Syria. The factions are:
- Syria's largest rebel group, the Islamic Front
- the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front
- the foreign Russian-speaking jihadist group Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar
- and the anti-ISIL coalition, the Army of Mujahedeen.[4]
| Ahl Al-Sham | |
|---|---|
| غرفة أهل الشام | |
 The official logo of Ahl Al-Sham | |
| Dates of operation | 24 February 2014[1] – 6 February 2015[2] |
| Group(s) | |
| Headquarters | Aleppo, Syria[3] |
| Active regions | Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Allies | Free Syrian Army Syria Revolutionaries Front[4] People's Protection Units[3] Jabhat al-Akrad |
| Opponents | Syrian Armed Forces Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
The group has held talks with the People's Protection Units and Jabhat al-Akrad; they have agreed to a truce in order to focus on fighting the Assad government.[5]
The groups involved in the structure are perceived differently by the United States; while Al-Nusra Front and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar are designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.[6][7] In contrast Islamic Front is considered by the United States as a "moderate" fighting force and the Army of Mujahedeen is being vetted by them to receive support.[8][9]
In late October 2014, the al-Nusra Front began attacking cities held by the Free Syrian Army and other moderate Islamist groups, in an attempt to establish its own Islamic state with imposed Sharia rule.[10]
In December 2014, the Levant Front coalition was established, possibly superseding Ahl al-Sham.[11] It includes the Islamic Front and the Army of Mujahideen but excludes al-Nusra and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar. The Aleppo Liberation operations room was established in February 2015; it includes Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar as part of the Jabhat Ansar al-Din.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "SYRIA – Ahl Al-Sham operations room… When the rebels turned the tables of Assad's siege on Aleppo". The Maghreb and Orient Courier. May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ a b "scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10462786_1700392156854090_1914910234494533086_n.png". Syria Rebellion Observatory. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Aleppo in second week of blackout aimed at limiting barrel bomb". The Daily Star. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Aleppo: Syria's Stalingrad?". National Interest. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "A new dialogue and collaboration in northern Syria between kurds and rebels". The Arab Chronicle. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "Terrorist Designations of the al-Nusrah Front". US Department of State. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters". US Department of State. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "After A Long Wait, Syrian Rebels Hope The Weapons Will Now Flow". NPR. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "U.S.-led air strikes pose problem for Assad's moderate foes". Reuters. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ Los Angeles Times (28 November 2014). "Islamic State, rival Al Nusra Front each strengthen grip on Syria". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "The Levant Front: Can Aleppo's Rebels Unite?". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
