Syrian Islamic Front

Not to be confused with Islamic Front (Syria) or Syrian Islamic Liberation Front.

Syrian Islamic Front
الجبهة الإسلامية السورية
Al-Jabha Al-Islamiyya Al-Suriyya
LeadersHassan Aboud (Ahrar ash-Sham)
Dates of operationDecember 2012 – November 2013
Group(s)
  • Ahrar ash-Sham
  • Ansar al-Sham
  • Liwa al-Haqq
  • Kurdish Islamic Front
  • Hamza ibn Abdulmutallib Brigade
  • Al-Fajr Islamic Movement
  • Jaysh Al-Tawhid
  • Mus'ab ibn Umayr Brigade
  • Faith Brigade
  • Special Forces Unit
  • Islamic Vangaurd
  • Eagles of Islam
  • Haqq Battalions Gathering (Merged with Other Groups to Become Liwa Mujahidi al-Sham)
Active regionsSyria
IdeologySalafi Islamism[1]
Syrian nationalism
Size25,000 (Dec. 2012, own claim)[2] – 13,000[3] (May 2013)
Allies Free Syrian Army[4][5]
Syrian Islamic Liberation Front
Al-Nusra Front (formerly)[6]
OpponentsSyria Syria
Shabiha
Hezbollah
 Iran
People's Protection Units (YPG)[7]
Battles and wars2012–2013 escalation of the Syrian Civil War
Succeeded by
Islamic Front

The Syrian Islamic Front (Arabic: الجبهة الإسلامية السورية al-Jabhah al-Islāmiyya as-Sūriyyah; abbreviated SIF) was an Insurgent umbrella organisation alliance of various Sunni Salafi Islamist Rebel factions against the Bashar al-Assad in Syria the organisation objective is transformation of Syria into an Islamic state under Sharia law.[8]

Its largest group was the Salafist Ahrar ash-Sham, which reportedly "led" and "dominated" the Front.[9] In November 2013, the Syrian Islamic Front was dissolved, as the organization was replaced by the Islamic Front.[10]

  1. ^ Aron Lund, Syria's Salafi Insurgents: the Rise of the Syrian Islamic Front Archived 31 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Swedish Institute for International Affairs, 19 March 2013
  2. ^ Aron Lund (17 June 2013). "Freedom fighters? Cannibals? The truth about Syria's rebels". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  3. ^ "The Structure and Organization of the Syrian Opposition | Center for American Progress". Americanprogress.org. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Freedom, Human Rights, Rule of Law: The Goals and Guiding Principles of the Islamic Front and Its Allies". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  5. ^ Sowell, Kirk (3 September 2013). "The fragmenting FSA". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Syrian Rebels Break With Group Over Qaeda Wing Alliance". NY Times. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Insurgents Declare War on Syria's Kurds". SyriaReport. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  8. ^ Aron Lund, Syria's Salafi Insurgents: the Rise of the Syrian Islamic Front Archived 31 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Swedish Institute for International Affairs, 19 March 2013
  9. ^ Sly, Liz (6 September 2013). "Syrian Islamists protest U.S. strikes; Americans exit embassy in Beirut". New York Times. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Syria crisis: Guide to armed and political opposition". BBC. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2014.