21st Combined Force (Syrian rebel group)

21st Combined Force
تجمع القوة 21
Leaders
Dates of operationJune 2013 – present
  • June 2013 – March 2014 (as the 33rd Infantry Division)
  • March 2014 – October 2016 (as the 101st Infantry Division)
  • October 2016 – present (as the 21st Combined Force)
Group(s)
  • 1st Tank Brigade
  • 3rd Tank Brigade
  • 7th Special Forces Brigade
  • 9th Infantry Brigade
  • Special Missions Battalion
  • Resolute Storm Brigade[5]
Active regions
IdeologySyrian nationalism
Size
  • 1,700 (2013)[4]
  • 2,000 (2015)[3]
Part of
Allies
Opponents
Battles and wars
Preceded by
33rd Infantry Division

The 21st Combined Force (Arabic: تجمع القوة 21), formerly called the 101st Infantry Division (Arabic: الفرقة 101 مشاة) and the 33rd Infantry Division (Arabic: الفرقة 33 مشاة), is a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army, sanctioned by the Syrian National Council,[1] and part of the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council.[6] The group was led by Colonel Hassan Hamada. It received U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles, and was funded by the Supreme Military Council.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Exclusive Interview: Former MIG pilot recounts audacious defection, talks TOW missiles". Tahrir Souri. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Band "101 pedestrians" changed its name .. and merge with several factions". Enab Baladi. 14 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Don't underestimate Free Syrian Army". Al-Monitor. 1 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b Kodmani, Bassma; Legrand, Félix (14 October 2013). "Empowering the democratic resistance in Syria". Arab Reform Initiative.
  5. ^ a b Shaheen al-Ahmad (18 August 2017). "(Liberation Sham) executes the brigade commander (Storm Hazm)". Micro Syria.
  6. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE – 18 Syrian revolutionary factions advancing toward a One Army project". The Arab Chronicle. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Merger of Five Rebel Factions into the Fifth Corps". National Coalition of Syrian and Revolutionary Forces. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.