Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz explained

Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz
Native Name:كتيبة أحرار ألشركس
War:the Syrian Civil war
Active:February 2013 — 2014 [1]
Leaders:Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy
Headquarters:Beer Ajam, Quneitra Governorate
Area:Quneitra Governorate and Latakia Governorate
Partof: Ajnad al-Kavkaz (since 2014)
Allies: Al-Nusra
Alwiya al-Furqan
Free Syrian Army
Islamic Front
Opponents: Syria
Hezbollah
Battles:Syrian Civil War

Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz, originally formed as Ahrar al-Sharkas (Arabic: كتيبة أحرار ألشركس, The Free Circassian Battalion), was an armed group based in the Quneitra Governorate of Syria with some fighters in the Latakia Governorate. The group was made up of ethnic Circassians from Beer Ajam. The group came to prominence during the Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14).

History

The group was founded by a local from Beer Ajam of Circassian descent who goes by the nom de guerre Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy who has expressed support for the Caucasus Emirate. In 2014 he declared allegiance to Ajnad al-Kavkaz, thus making Ahrar al-Sharkas part of it and moved some fighters to the Latakia Governorate to be closer to the central core of Ajnad al-Kavkaz.[2] After their declaration of allegiance to Ajnad Al-Kavkaz, Ajnad Al-Kavkaz officially recognized itself as active in the Quneitra Governorate.[3] The group chose to remain neutral in the conflict between ISIL and other rebel groups.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Syrian Revolution - Armed Groups: Jihadist groups in Syria. Hamoudi. Mezghiche. 23 November 2014.
  2. Web site: "Displaced Conflict": Ethnic Circassian Ahrar Al-Sharkas Joins Junud Al-Qawqaz. Chechens in Syria. 9 October 2018. 28 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz: A Caucasus Emirate Group in Latakia. Aymenn Jawad. Al-Tamimi.