Northern Democratic Brigade

The Northern Democratic Brigade (Arabic: لواء الشمال الديمقراطي‎, romanized: Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati) is a Free Syrian Army unit, led by Alexander Khalil,[6][15][10] that is closely allied to the Syrian Kurdish YPG and YPJ in Afrin Canton since 2014. It also joined the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in November 2015. The initial members of the group originated from Jabal Zawiya in Idlib,[1] and it has recruited Arabs from Idlib, Aleppo, and other cities in northern Syria since allying with the YPG.[5]

Northern Democratic Brigade
Arabic: لواء الشمال الديمقراطي‎, romanized: Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Emblem of the Northern Democratic Brigade. The unit also uses the Syrian independence flag.[1]
Activec. 2013 – present
IdeologyDemocracy[2]
Syrian nationalism[3]
Anti-Neo-Ottomanism[4]
Anti-racism[2]
Anti-Islamism[5]
Federalization of Syria
Leaders
  • Alexander Khalil[6]
  • Alexander Alaa[7][8]
  • Absi Taha ("Abu Omar al-Idlibi")[9]
  • Khaled Zino (spokesperson)[10]
  • Fayyad Abdullah[11]
  • Iyad Khatib (director of the brigade's political bureau)[12]
Headquarters
Area of operationsNorthern Syria
Part of Free Syrian Army[5]

Syrian Democratic Forces (since Nov. 2015)[17]

  • Idlib Military Council
Allies
Opponent(s)
Battles and war(s)Syrian Civil War

History

Formation and alliance with the YPG

The unit was formed in Idlib Governorate around 2013[15] and was originally known as the Free Syrian Army's al-Qa'qa' Brigade (Arabic: لواء القعقاع‎), part of the Free Zawiya Brigade based in the Jabal Zawiya region of Idlib.[13][5] In the course of 2014, it first joined the Free Syria Brigade, and then switched to the Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF).[21] When the SRF moved closer to radical Islamist groups, it expelled the al-Qa'qa' Brigade,[5] whereupon the militia became part of the Syrian Salvation Front in May 2014. When the al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict broke out, the al-Qa'qa' Brigade, then as part of the Syrian Salvation Front's Free Zawiya Union, was pushed out of the region by the al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Aqsa, and Ahrar al-Sham by November 2014,[21] and withdrew north to the YPG-held Afrin Canton.[5]

In November 2015, the al-Qa'qa' Brigade was one of several FSA groups from the Idlib and Aleppo Governorates that officially joined the newly founded Syrian Democratic Forces,[17][22] and also became part of the Army of Revolutionaries.[14] Soon after its accession into the SDF and the Army of Revolutionaries, the al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham accused the al-Qa'qa' Brigade of apostasy and launched an attack on the SDF in northern Aleppo.[23] Nevertheless, the unit managed to send some of its forces to the Kobanî and Jazira Cantons to fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), for example taking part in the offensive to capture al-Hawl.[6] By January 2016, one of the al-Qa'qa' Brigade's leaders, Absi Taha ("Abu Omar al-Idlibi"), was appointed the military commander of the Army of Revolutionaries.[24] Nevertheless, the brigade eventually left the Army of Revolutionaries in February 2016,[9] adopted its new name "Northern Democratic Brigade", and became an independent group within the SDF.[14]

Continued operations against pro-Turkish forces and ISIL
Absi Taha, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Omar al-Idlibi, a commander in the Northern Democratic Brigade, in Raqqa, 6 March 2018. The group at the time redeployed fighters from Raqqa to Afrin.[25]

In August 2016, the Northern Democratic Brigade and other pro-SDF FSA groups condemned the Turkish military intervention in Syria and the international coalition for supporting it, accusing the Turkish-backed forces of committing "massacres" in villages near Jarabulus, and announced their support for the SDF's Jarabulus Military Council.[26] Soon after, the brigade participated in the Western al-Bab offensive against ISIL forces in northern Aleppo, and captured Harbul, Maarat Umm Hawsh, and several other villages in the area.[27] In October 2016, the group participated in the second Western al-Bab offensive, during which it helped to capture the village Tal Malid from the Turkish-backed rebel groups (TFSA).[19] In course of the following Battle of al-Bab, the Northern Democratic Brigade again fought TFSA groups, including at al-Samakia.[10]

In the final phase of the Battle of Aleppo in December 2016, the Northern Democratic Brigade called upon FSA groups encircled in the city to join the SDF, claiming that one local unit, the "Complete Military Battalion" had already joined it.[28] Since June 2017, the Northern Democratic Brigade also sent its fighters to take part in the SDF campaign to capture Raqqa from ISIL. Units from the group were stationed in Tabqa[29] while others participated in the Battle of Raqqa.[20][15]

On 2 July, the military commander of the unit declared that the Northern Democratic Brigade was ready to help "liberate all Syrian territory from the Turkish occupation" and called on TFSA groups to defect to the SDF. This statement was in response to alleged Turkish plans to invade Afrin Canton and the Shahba region.[8] He repeated this declaration four days later in course of a joint statement by several Arab SDF groups against Turkey.[30] After the Turkish Armed Forces intervened in Idlib Governorate against both Tahrir al-Sham as well as the YPG/YPJ, the Northern Democratic Brigade denounced this move as an attempt of the "Ottoman state" to besiege Aleppo and Afrin. In response, the group announced that it would attempt to form a military council with other FSA remnant factions in order to fight against both the Turkish Army as well as Tahrir al-Sham, affiliated with al-Qaeda, in Idlib.[4] In December 2017, a Northern Democratic Brigade commander also accused Turkey of sending ex-ISIL fighters into Idlib Governorate in order to expand its influence there.[2]

When Turkey began to prepare its military intervention in Afrin, a commander of the Northern Democratic Brigade declared that his men are "ready and are responding to any source of fire";[31] the militia consequently took part in the fighting against the Turkish-backed forces at the villages of Marnaz, Ain Dukna,[32] Shirwa and Mount Lilon in late January 2018.[33] On 6 March 2018, the Northern Democratic Brigade's contingents in eastern Syria, based in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor Governorate, announced that they would be transferred to Afrin.[25][34] By September 2018, 25 fighters of the militia completed a special forces training at the Zaqour al-Zawiya camp.[12] By early 2019, the Northern Democratic Brigade had rejoined the Deir ez-Zor campaign against ISIL, and was taking part in the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani.[35]

When Turkey launched an invasion of north-eastern Syria, the Northern Democratic Brigade announced that it would fight with the rest of the SDF against the Turkish-led forces.[36]

Ideology
See also: Syrian National Democratic Alliance
Fighters of the Northern Democratic Brigade and Army of Revolutionaries in Raqqa, March 2018

The Northern Democratic Brigade portrays itself as Syrian nationalist group[3] that wants to ensure a "colorful and democratic Syria on the basis of co-existence and justice"[2] and thus rejects authoritarianism and Islamism.[2][5] The militia has also voiced support for the federalization of Syria.[12] As result, it is opposed to both the al-Assad family's rule as well as much of the Syrian opposition, believing that the latter has betrayed the Syrian revolution by allying with Islamist forces. The group also rejects the influence of Turkey and the Gulf states on the Syrian rebels, as it considers these states to be primarily motivated by self-interest instead of genuinely supporting the revolution.[5] The Northern Democratic Brigade believes that Turkey's interventions in the Syrian Civil War are motivated by imperialistic ambitions (Neo-Ottomanism)[4] and has accused it of supporting Jihadists, including ex-ISIL forces.[2]

After allying with the YPG, the militia aligned its ideology with that of the YPG, namely the political thought of PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan. Supportive news sites, most notably Point Media, often show Northern Democratic Brigade fighters waving the Syrian independence flag, but also Öcalan and YPG flags. This has "endeared them to many of the Kurds they work with", but also generated much opposition from other Syrian rebel groups. Furthermore, the Northern Democratic Brigade has joined the left-wing, multi-ethnic Syrian National Democratic Alliance, a party that is active in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.[5] The militia, along with several other SDF groups in the area, attended the second conference of the Syrian National Democratic Alliance in Afrin in late May 2017.[37] The militia aligned itself with the Syria Future Party[12] sometime after the latter's foundation in March 2018.[38]

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See also

References
  1. "Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati s'incorpora a la campanya de Raqqà". KurdishCat (in Catalan). 10 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. "Opposition commander: Turkey is sending ISIS groups to Idlib". ANF News. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  3. "Who's who in Syria?". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. "A brigade of "Qusd" vows to enter Idlib". Enab Baladi. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. Mohammed Elnaiem (7 February 2018). "Whose Free Syrian Army? The Arab opposition resisting Turkey's Afrin attacks". The Region. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  6. "Arab fighters: ready to fight until the liberation of all over Syria". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. "Military commander: the sons of Syria will liberate areas of Shahba Turkish occupation". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
  8. Wladimir van Wilgenburg (3 July 2017). "Rebel brigade says ready to expel Turkish forces from northern Syria". ARA News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  9. "Archived: split military commander in (the rebel army) solution to the banner". All4Syria. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016.
  10. "Afrin buries a fighter from the Arab component". Afrin Canton (in Arabic). 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017.
  11. "The Northern Democratic Brigade brings out the first batch of fighters from Idlib". Hawar News Agency. 19 November 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017.
  12. لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يخرج أول دورة للقوات الخاصة [The Northern Democratic Brigade is leaving its first special forces course]. Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 4 September 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  13. "Idleb 632 014". Step News Agency. June 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-06-28. ...The Qaqaa Brigade, part of Free Zawiya, infiltrated a checkpoint and assassinated Lieutenant Basil Ismail in the city of al-Mastumah...
  14. "EXCLUSIVE - Liwa al-Qaqaa was one of Jaysh al-Thuwar for #Afrin then became autonomous in #SDF as Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati". Syrian Rebellion Obs. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  15. @arisroussinos (15 June 2017). "Northern Democratic Brigade were SRF/FSA rebels in Idlib before being forced out by Jabhat al-Nusra, fled to SDF-held Afrin" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "Armed factions in the "Idlib" announces the formation of "rescue Syria Front"". Egypt Independent. 29 May 2014.
  17. "15 rebel factions are ready to fight under SDF banner in Aleppo and Idlib". SOHR. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  18. Kodmani, Bassma; Legrand, Félix (14 October 2013). "Empowering the democratic resistance in Syria". Arab Reform Initiative.
  19. Chris Tomson (23 October 2016). "Kurdish forces capture village in northern Aleppo as the Turkish Army redeploys". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  20. A.W. (6 June 2017). "Great War for the liberation of Raqqa begins". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017.
  21. "Victory Front and the Movement of Ahrar al-Sham town surrounded the headquarters of the Syrian Salvation Front in Bowler". Shaam News Network. 2 November 2014.
  22. "SDF declares "the start of liberation campaign" of the southern countryside of Ayn al- Arab (Kobani)". SOHR. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  23. "Nusra reportedly attacks newly pledged SDF forces in Aleppo". Syria Direct. 25 November 2015.
  24. "Abu Omar: Some of the media want to distort the image of the rebel army". Hawar News Agency. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  25. "Syrian Democratic Forces to withdraw fighters from eastern Syria to 'confront Turkish aggression' in Afrin". Syria Direct. 6 March 2018.
  26. "Rebel factions in northern Aleppo give the U.S led coalition the responsibility". SOHR. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  27. "Edit Town Herbel In The Aleppo Countryside North By The Revolutionary Factions". Radio Welat. 31 August 2016.
  28. Thomas van Linge (27 November 2016). "Liwa Shamal al-Democrati (#SDF) goes on by claiming rebels of Katibat Askari Kamilah of the #FSA have already joined them in #Aleppo". Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  29. "SDF Brigade Denies Fighting with Pro-Assad Forces in al-Tabqa". Latin American Herald Tribune. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  30. "Arab revolutionary factions: we will liberate north of Syria". Hawar News Agency. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  31. Sune Engel Rasmussen; Nancy A. Youssef; Dion Nissenbaum (17 January 2018). "U.S. Border Plan in Syria Fuels Tensions With Turkey". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  32. مواجهات "هي الأعنف" في عفرين تشهدها جبهتا مرعناز وعين دقنة ["The most violent" confrontations witnessed in Afrin are at Marnaaz and Ain Dukna]. 7al.net (in Arabic). 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  33. مقاتلون من إدلب: ندافع عن عفرين وعيوننا على تحرير إدلب [Idlib fighters: We defend Afrin and our eyes are on the liberation of Idlib]. Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  34. ""We will withdraw our forces from east of Euphrates, send them to the fronts of Afrin"". Hawar News Agency. 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  35. "A video by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, shows the clashes in the area of Al-Baghuz farms and its vicinity, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, between the remaining members of the "Islamic State" organization against Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati (the Northern Democratic Brigade) which operates under the banner of the Syria Democratic Forces". SOHR. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  36. "لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يؤكد مواصلة النضال للدفاع عن مكتسبات المنطقة ضد أي تهديد" [The Northern Democratic Brigade affirms the continued struggle to defend the gains of the region against any threat]. ANF News (in Arabic). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  37. "The launch of the second conference of the National Democratic Alliance Syrian". Hawar News Agency. 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017.
  38. AHMON-KHALED AL JUMAH (27 April 2018). "What are principles and objectives of Syria Future Party?". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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