Arab Nationalist Guard

The Arab Nationalist Guard (Arabic: الحرس القومي العربي‎) is a secular volunteer militia force operating in Syria. The group espouses an Arab nationalist ideology, gathering away from any sectarian, ethnic, or religious extremism. The Arab Nationalist Guard's membership includes nationalists from a variety of Arab countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen.[2][5] Some of their militiamen had fought previously in the Libyan Civil War and the Iraq War.[2]

Arab Nationalist Guard
الحرس القومي العربي
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Arab National Guard emblem and flag
ActiveApril 2013–present
IdeologyPan-Arabism
Left-wing nationalism
Secularism
Anti-Zionism
Nasserism
Group(s)Wadie Haddad battalion[1]
Haydar al-Amali battalion[1]
Mohamed Brahmi battalion[1]
Jules Jammal battalion[1]
HeadquartersSidon, Lebanon[1]
Area of operationsWestern Syria
Size1,000 (May 2014)[2]
Allies Syrian Armed Forces
National Defense Forces
 Hezbollah
Ba'ath Brigades
Opponent(s) Free Syrian Army
Al-Nusra Front
Battles and war(s)Syrian Civil War

History

Formed in April 2013 by pan-Arab volunteers to fight against "all Takfiri movements that aim to strike our unity and sow divisions between Arabs",[1] the Arab Nationalist Guard bolstered the ranks of Bashar al-Assad's government amid the 2012–13 escalation of the Syrian Civil War. The group quickly started to closely cooperate with the Syrian National Defence Forces militia network, and organized itself into four battalions. From late 2013 to early 2014, the Arab Nationalist Guard primarily fought in Qalamoun, though was also present at other conflict zones in Damascus Governorate, Aleppo Governorate, Deraa Governorate, and Homs Governorate.[1]

Ideology

The group's ideology falls in line with Gamal Abdel Nasser's pan-Arab ideals (Nasserism),[1] as well as with anti-Zionism and anti-colonialism. The Arab Nationalist Guard has its own manifesto, where it is stated that its units' names are inspired by Arab politicians and martyrs who have led secularist and Arab national movements in the Middle East and North Africa region or were killed by Islamists.[6]

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See also
  • List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War

References
  1. Cooper (2015), p. 59.
  2. Rana Harbi (5 May 2014). "Arab nationalists take up arms in the battle for Syria". Al-Akhbar. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  3. "Daryya Rebels Thwarted another Attempt to Storm the City". El-Dorar Al-Shamia. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016.
  4. Andrew Illingworth (8 January 2018). "Syrian Army's order of battle for Harasta operation in east Damascus revealed". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. Jawad Al-Tamimi (1 January 2014). "The Arab National Guard: A Pro-Assad Militia". Aymennjawad.org. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  6. Moses, Brown. "The Arab Nationalist Guard: A Pro-Assad Militia". Brown Moses Blog. Retrieved 24 July 2014.

Works cited
  • Cooper, Tom (2015). Syrian Conflagration. The Civil War 2011–2013. Solihull: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-910294-10-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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