Idlib Martyrs' Brigade
| Idlib Martyrs' Brigade | |
|---|---|
|
كتائب شهداء إدلب Liwa Shuhada’ Idlib Participant in Syrian civil war | |
.svg.png) | |
| Active | Early 2012 – present |
| Leaders |
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Nasif[1] Basil Eissa (KIA)[2] Mohannad Eissa[3] |
| Area of operations | Idlib Governorate, Syria |
| Strength | ~900[1] |
| Part of |
Free Syrian Army[4] Syria Revolutionaries Front[3] |
| Opponents | Syrian Armed Forces |
| Battles and wars | |
The Idlib Martyrs' Brigade or Liwa Shuhada’ Idlib is an armed insurgent group fighting against the Syrian government in the Idlib province of Syria.[6] It first operated under the name Syrian Liberation Army, but had renamed itself by June 2012.[2] It is a loose coalition of localized forces, mostly composed of armed Syrian civilians who have joined the uprising.[7]
The group is based in Idlib Governorate and is primarily concerned with trying to expel government forces from the governorate, with the Idlib Martyrs' Brigade claiming that they, and not the better equipped Free Syrian Army, are doing the majority of the fighting in Idlib province.[8] The brigade only appears to be active in Idlib province.[4]
One of the group's primary problems is the fact that it is incredibly difficult to secure weapons and ammunition. This in turn is severely hampering its recruitment and its ability to carry out attacks on Syrian government forces.[9] The Brigade has claimed that up to 71,000 youths are ready to join the group but are prevented from doing so due to lack of weaponry and equipment. This shortage has resulted in the group placing greater emphasis on bombings and roadside explosions using cheaper, homemade bombs, to counter the government.[10]
The group also refused to abide by the Kofi Annan brokered ceasefire with Haitham Qudeimati, the groups spokesman, stating that any lull in the fighting on their part would only be due to a lack of weaponry.[11]
On 5 November 2012, the head of the Idlib Martyrs' Brigade, Basil Eissa, along with at least 20 other rebels were killed in an airstrike by the Syrian Air Force.[12]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Syria's Secular Rebels, Now Unified Under a New Banner". Syria Deeply. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- 1 2 "2012 in Syria's civil war: One rebel's story". CBS News. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- 1 2 Lund, Aron (13 December 2013). "The Syria Revolutionaries' Front". Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- 1 2 "Syria's Armed Opposition: A Brief Overview". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ↑ "Syria army shells Homs and northern towns in Idlib". BBC News. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ "Syrian rebels desperate for weapons". CBS. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ "Syrian rebels are losing faith in the West". The Telegraph. London. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ Sengupta, Kim (8 March 2012). "United against a common enemy? Syria's breakaway factions". Independent. London. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ "Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive". Time. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ Solomon, Erika (30 April 2012). "Outgunned Syria rebels make shift to bombs". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ "Rebel rivalry and suspicions threaten Syria revolt". Reuters. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ Karouny, Mariam (5 November 2012). "Air strike kills 20 rebels in Syria: Observatory". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
