Revolutionary Commando Army

Syrian Free Army
Arabic: جيش مغاوير الثورة
Leaders
  • Muhammad Farid (since October 2022)[1]
  • Muhammad Ahmad[2] (until October 2022)[1]
  • Captain Abdullah al-Zoubi[3]
    (since December 2016, MaT)
  • Bara Fares[4]
    (media spokesperson)
  • Muhammad Jarrah[5]
    (spokesman)
  • Khazal al-Sarhan[6]
    (until December 2016, NSYA)
  • Mozahem al-Saloum[7]
    (spokesperson, former, NSYA)
Dates of operationMay 2015 – Dec 2016 (New Syrian Army)
Dec 2016 — Nov 2022 (Maghaweir Al-Thowra)
Nov 2022 — present (Syrian Free Army)
Group(s)
  • Ghosts of the Desert[8]
  • Allahu Akbar Brigade
HeadquartersAl-Tanf
Active regionsHoms Governorate, Rif Dimashq Governorate, and Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Anbar Governorate, Iraq
IdeologySyrian opposition
StatusActive
Size
Part ofSyrian opposition Free Syrian Army
Syrian opposition Authenticity and Development Front (until August 2016)[14]
Allies Southern Front[15]
 United States
United Kingdom United Kingdom[17]
Norway Norway (until 2018)[18]
Jordan Jordan (until 2018)[15]
Opponents Islamic State[19]
Syria Syrian Armed Forces
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War 2023 American–Middle East conflict
Preceded by
Allahu Akbar Brigade (Authenticity and Development Front)

The Syrian Free Army (SFA),[a] also known as the New Syrian Army (NSA),[b] or Revolutionary Commando Army,[20] is a Syrian opposition faction which controls territory near Syria's border with Iraq and Jordan. It has been trained by the United States Army and hosted at al-Tanf.[20][19][21]

Founded as an expansion of the Allahu Akbar Brigade by Syrian Arab Army defectors and other rebels during the Syrian Civil War on 20 May 2015, the New Syrian Army sought to expel the Islamic State from southeastern Syria. In December 2016, the New Syrian Army dissolved, and the remnants of the group formed Maghawir al-Thawra.[22] In 2022 it rebranded as the Syrian Free Army following disputes between different factions of its leadership.

  1. ^ a b Walid Al Nofal (5 October 2022). "US-backed Maghawir al-Thawra commander replaced, amid internal disagreements and corruption allegations". Syria Direct. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Muhammad Ersan (1 June 2017). "Syrian rebel commander: 150 US troops at al-Tanf base". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017.
  3. ^ ""The new Syrian Army" new look .. "commando revolution," the formation of US support to fight state regulation in Homs". Shaam Network. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  4. ^ Muhammad Hourani (25 May 2017). ""Commando revolution" is preparing to cover the battle of Abu Kamal coalition". Arabi 21. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference downsize was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "New Syrian Army will 'liberate eastern Syria' from IS". The New Arab. 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  7. ^ "What is the truth Revolution Army commando attack on the regime in the Syrian desert?". Qasioun News Agency. 26 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  8. ^ "THE GHOSTS OF THE DESERT: FIGHTING ISIS FROM WITHIN". Conflict News. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016.
  9. ^ Times, Los Angeles (29 June 2016). "U.S.-backed rebels launched their first attack against Islamic State. They lost". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. ^ Weiss, Michael (1 July 2016). "They Rescued This Town from ISIS, Then Lost It". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. ^ Cody Roche Syrian Opposition Factions in the Syrian Civil War Archived 2022-04-09 at the Wayback Machine, Bellingcat, 13 August 2016
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kube was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi junction". The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference jeopardy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ a b "The New Syrian Army: America's "Tip of the Spear" Against ISIS in the Syrian Desert". Rao Komar. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Russian air strikes kill Syrian refugees on Jordan border: Rebels". Middle East Eye. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  17. ^ British special forces 'operating inside Syria alongside rebels' Archived 2016-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph 6 June 2016
  18. ^ "Holder tett om støtte". Klassekampen (in Norwegian). 16 June 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Syria's New Army". BBC. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  20. ^ a b "New decision - Maghaweer Al-Thawrah to change faction's name to "Free Syria" army". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 23 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  21. ^ Coalition: MaT still a vetted Syrian force, remains at At Tanf Archived 2018-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, The Defense Post
  22. ^ ""Revolution Commando" New Military Formation to fight IS group of Palmyra". El-Dorar al-Shamia. 27 December 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.


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