Al-Bab Military Council

The al-Bab Military Council (BMC) is an ethnically mixed force of the Syrian Democratic Forces, consisting of Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen militias from northern Aleppo Governorate. The BMC currently maintains a presence in several villages west of Manbij, though its stated goal is to capture al-Bab, currently under the Turkish occupation of northern Syria.

Al-Bab Military Council
مجلس الباب العسكري
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Flag of the al-Bab Military Council
Active14 August 2016 – present
Group(s)
  • Al-Bab Revolutionary Front
  • Qebasin Martyrs Brigade
  • Army of Revolutionaries (elements)
    • Seljuq Brigade
  • Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion
  • Free Arima Battalion
  • Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade
  • Kieba Martyrs Brigade
  • Female Battalion
LeadersJamal Abu Juma
HeadquartersManbij
Area of operationsManbij District and eastern al-Bab District
AlliesUnited States
Russia
Battles and war(s)

History

The al-Bab Military Council was formed on 14 August 2016 by seven small SDF-affiliated factions with the goal of capturing the city of al-Bab, which they described as "a symbol of the revolution and the foundation for a democratic, free and plural Syria". It called for US military support. Afrin-based SDF forces, cut off from the rest of the SDF by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, launched an offensive in the countryside west of al-Bab in September.[2][3] Amid the Battle of al-Bab and the wider Operation Euphrates Shield, the BMC fought alongside the People's Protection Units (YPG) against the Islamic State and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) in an attempt to capture al-Bab before Turkey did.[4] The BMC and its allies were unable to reach the city, however, and al-Bab and its surroundings consequently became part of the Turkish occupation zone in northern Syria.[5] Since then, the BMC has frequently reiterated its intention to end the Turkish occupation of the region.[6][7][8][9]

As clashes between the SDF and the Turkish-backed forces increased in March 2017, the SDF made a deal with the Syrian government and agreed to the posting of loyalist Syrian border guards in SDF-held areas to defuse tensions.[10][11] The BMC coordinated with these border guards to counter attacks by the TFSA.[11] The group maintained a presence in several villages that bordered on Turkish-held territories, and repeatedly clashed with Turkish-backed forces.[12]

After the village of Arima was formally placed under Syrian Army control on 25 December 2018 following a deal between the SDF and the Syrian government,[13][14] the BMC (along with the Manbij Military Council and Kurdish Front) was one of the SDF units which maintained a presence in the village.[15] In early January 2019, several clashes took place between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA, previously known as the TFSA) and the BMC near Arima.[16][17] In response, BMC fighters, led by their commander Jamal Abu Juma, conducted joint patrols with Russian Armed Forces soldiers in the area where the joint SDF-Syrian Army zone bordered on Turkish-held territories.[18][19] Sporadic fighting continued between the BMC and SNA.[20]

Structure

The BMC initially consisted of seven militias, two Arab units (Al-Bab Revolutionary Front and Free Arima Battalion), two Kurdish groups (Qebasin Martyrs Brigade and Kieba Martyrs Brigade), one Turkmen militia (Seljuq Brigade), and two ethnically mixed units (Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion and Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade).[4]

In October 2016, an all-female battalion was established.[21] This unit started to recruit women among the refugees from al-Bab, especially those who had suffered at the hands of ISIL.[21][22][23]

Jamal Abu Juma is the commander of the BMC.[6][24][18] By February 2019, he had survived 15 assassination attempts.[25]

gollark: I believe in the coolness of hexagons, and Satanism but ironically.
gollark: ... well, yes, I don't believe in god(s).
gollark: Yes, I am indeed an Athe worshipper.
gollark: WHAT ARE YOU BASINGTHAT ON
gollark: Well, yes, the ex-religion whatevers suffer a *lot* of selection bias, try to find a better dætaset.

References
  1. "Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. "Military council created for liberation of al-Bab". Rudaw. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. "SYRIA: New Military Council Formed to Fight Islamic State in Al Bab August 14". The Daily Telegraph. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. "Turkish-backed rebels, Syrian Army and Kurdish forces all advance in race to al-Bab". al-Masdar News. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  5. Paul Iddon (17 January 2017). "Kurds in Iraq, Syria, outsource captured cities to militias". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. Zen Adra (16 August 2017). "Kurdish leader vows to expel Turkish-backed rebels from al-Bab". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. "Anniversary statement of establishment of Al-Bab military council to Al-Bab city and its countryside". SDF Press. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. "Al-Bab Military Council condemned Turkey's occupation practices". Hawar News Agency. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. "Commander in al-Bab: Al-Bab Families' Gathering is positive step towards liberation". Hawar News Agency. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  10. "A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?". Verify. 6 March 2017.
  11. "Abu Juma: We coordinate with border guards responding to al-Bab calls to rid them of mercenaries". Hawar News Agency. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  12. "Hawar news agency's outline 12-6-2018". Hawar News Agency. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  13. "Breaking: Kurdish forces handover town near Manbij to Syrian Army". Al Masdar News. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  14. "Assad regime forces enter YPG-held village west of Syria's Manbij". Daily Sabah. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  15. ERSİN ÇAKSU (29 December 2018). "Intense traffic in Arima against occupation". ANF News. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  16. "Clashes between al-Bab Military Council, mercenaries of Turkey east of al-Bab city-Updated". ANF News. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  17. "Bab Military Council Commander: Turkish attacks target civilians". ANF News. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  18. "Bab Military Council and Russian forces go on joint patrol". ANF News. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  19. "A week after the withdrawal of about 250 fighters to the east of Euphrates, Russia continues to run joint patrols with the military council of al-Bab of SDF in Manbij countryside". SOHR. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  20. "Turkey's mercenaries attacked Bab Military Council positions". ANF News. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  21. "Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion". 1 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  22. Heing 2018, pp. 87–88.
  23. Bethan McKernan (1 November 2016). "Syrian women saved from Isis by female Kurdish fighters set up their own women-only battalion". The Independent. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  24. "Distribution battles among occupation forces in al-Bab". ANF News. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  25. Veronique de Viguerie (7 February 2019). "ISIS On Brink of Territorial Defeat In Syria". Getty Images Reportage. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

Bibliography
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