National Unity Brigades

The National Unity Brigades (Arabic: كتائب الوحدة الوطنية‎; Kata'ib al-Wehda al-Watania) was an alliance of Syrian rebel groups that participated in the Syrian Civil War. The group was formed in August 2012. Known for its non-sectarianism, the group included rebels from minority groups such as Christians, Druze, Ismailis, and Alawites.[3][1] The goal of the group was to establish a civil, democratic state for "all ethnicities and social identities".[5]

National Unity Brigades
كتائب الوحدة الوطنية
Kata'ib al-Wehda al-Watania
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Logo of the National Unity Brigades
ActiveAugust 2012 – mid-2014 (defunct)
IdeologySyrian nationalism
Democracy
AllegianceNational Unity Movement[1]
Leaders
  • Lieutenant Colonel Safi Abdel Karim[1]
  • Captain Muhammad Tabnaja[1]
  • Sergeant Muhammad Hammoud †[2]
  • Ahmad Khdairu[1]
  • Abdul Rahman Abdullah ("Abu Walid")[1]
  • Hader Sheikh al-Shabab[1]
  • Yusef Haj Yusef[1]
  • Ali Haj Hassan[1]
  • Abu Muhammad al-Maydani[1]
  • Muhammad al-Hashish[1]
Area of operationsSyria
Size"Few hundred"[3] – 2,000[4][1]
Part of Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syria Front (May–December 2013)[1]
Allies
Opponent(s)
Battles and war(s)Syrian Civil War

Member groups

Many of the units in the National Unity Brigades are named after Syrian nationalist and Syrian independence figures.[3]

Subgroups in the Idlib and Latakia governorates
  • Martyrs of Mount Wastani Brigade[6]
    • Martyr Muhammad Sultan Battalion
    • Martyr Raed Sultan Battalion
    • Ansar Battalion
    • Free Detainees Battalion
  • Martyrs of Janudia Battalion[1]
  • Martyrs of Bidama Brigade[5]
  • Free Men of Bidama Battalion[1]
  • Caliphate Brigade[1]
    • Martyrs of Freedom Battalion
  • Banners of the Revolution Battalion[2]
  • "We are all Syrians" Brigade[6]
    • Hawks of Islam Battalion
    • Northern Storm Battalion
    • Loire Mountain Battalion
    • Swords of Islam Battalion
Subgroups in the Hama Governorate
Subgroups in the Suwayda and Rif Dimashq governorates

Structure, funding, external support, and relations with other groups

The first plans of forming the National Unity Brigades was discussed by rebels in June 2012. Some of the rebels in the group were former activists and protesters. They began to collect money, organized the units, and announced the formation of the group in August 2012.[5] In October 2012, the National Unity Brigades rejected foreign political support. The group was a loose coalition instead of a unified group and it received funding from various rebel military councils in Syria. The group claimed to have good relations with all other rebel groups "without exception" and have fought in battles "side by side with Islamist and Jihadist brigades".[5]

In January 2013, 200 fighters of the Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades on Mount Zawiya requested to join the National Unity Brigades. The request was denied due to the lack of sufficient resources such as ammunition for the group.[1]

The group recognized the Supreme Military Council, although it originally did not receive any support from it. On 18 May 2013, the Free Syria Front was formed by SMC commander Colonel Qasim Saad al-Din. Many groups in the National Unity Brigades joined the Free Syria Front. By October 2013, the NUB became an "autonomous coalition" within the FSF.[1]

In February 2013, the National Unity Brigades refused to cooperate with the al-Nusra Front. A fighter in the group stated that "al-Qaeda is hijacking the revolution".[10] Tensions rose between the two groups on Mount Wastani in western Idlib. On 19 June 2013, al-Nusra Front fighters killed two civilians in the area. After this, 50 al-Nusra fighters attempted to enter a village west of Darkoush, but was stopped at a checkpoint manned by the Martyrs of Mount Wastani Brigade, part of the National Unity Brigades. Following this incident, 10 rebel groups on Mount Wastani formed a coalition against al-Nusra and forced them to withdraw from the area by October 2013:[1]

  • Martyrs of Mount Wastani Brigade
  • Northern Countryside Brigade
  • Free Men of Mount Wastani Brigade
  • Ghufran Brigade
  • Glories of Islam Brigade
  • Ahbad al-Rasul Brigade
  • Happy Martyrs Brigade
  • Free Zawiya Brigade
  • Free Battalion
  • Jisr al-Shughur Military Council

In July 2014, the al-Nusra Front attacked the Martyrs of Mount Wastani Brigade near the mountain range, resulting in casualties from both sides.[11]

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References
  1. Kodmani, Bassma; Legrand, Félix (14 October 2013). "Empowering the democratic resistance in Syria". Arab Reform Initiative.
  2. "Martyr Mohammad Hammoud, a battalion commander". Syrian Revolution Symbols. 11 October 2013.
  3. "Syria's Armed Opposition: A Brief Overview". Carnegie Middle East Center. 7 February 2013.
  4. "Guide to the Syrian rebels". BBC. 13 December 2013.
  5. Darth Nader (27 October 2012). "Interview with member of the "National Unity Brigades" of the FSA".
  6. "Statement of the formation of the front free Syria". Anbaa Online. 21 May 2013.
  7. "Archived: tenderness after the free army focuses on peaceful". All4Syria. 12 March 2013.
  8. "Statement join the battalion Sinan Rashid al-Din Brigade to the martyrs of the peaceful city on 6 - 5-2013". Free Salamiya Army. 6 May 2013.
  9. "Statement join a peaceful youth battalion to brigade martyrs peaceful city on 6 - 5-2013". Free Salamiya Army. 6 May 2013.
  10. Bradley Secker (27 February 2013). "Hint of U.S. aid brings hope to Syrian rebels". USA Today.
  11. ""Front victory" attacking a barrier for "Martyrs Brigade Mountain alwastany" Brive Idlib". Syria Observer. 11 July 2014.
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