Al-Bab Military Council Explained

Al-Bab Military Council
Native Name:مجلس الباب العسكري
Native Name Lang:ar
War:the Syrian Civil War
Active:14 August 2016 – present
Leaders:Jamal Abu Juma
Clans:
  • Al-Bab Revolutionary Front
  • Qebasin Martyrs Brigade
  • Army of Revolutionaries (elements)
  • Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion
  • Free Arima Battalion
  • Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade
  • Kieba Martyrs Brigade
  • Female Battalion
Headquarters:Manbij
Area:Manbij District and eastern al-Bab District
Allies:United States
Russia
Battles:

The al-Bab Military Council (BMC) is an ethnically mixed force of the Syrian Democratic Forces, consisting of Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen militias from northern Aleppo Governorate. The BMC currently maintains a presence in several villages west of Manbij, though its stated goal is to capture al-Bab, currently under the Syrian Interim Government.

History

The al-Bab Military Council was formed on 14 August 2016 by seven small SDF-affiliated factions with the goal of capturing the city of al-Bab, which they described as "a symbol of the revolution and the foundation for a democratic, free and plural Syria". It called for US military support. Afrin-based SDF forces, cut off from the rest of the SDF by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, launched an offensive in the countryside west of al-Bab in September.[2] [3] Amid the Battle of al-Bab and the wider Operation Euphrates Shield, the BMC fought alongside the People's Protection Units (YPG) against the Islamic State and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) in an attempt to capture al-Bab before Turkey did.[4] The BMC and its allies were unable to reach the city.[5] Since then, the BMC has frequently reiterated its intention to end the Turkish occupation of the region.[6] [7] [8] [9]

As clashes between the SDF and the Turkish-backed forces increased in March 2017, the SDF made a deal with the Syrian government and agreed to the posting of loyalist Syrian border guards in SDF-held areas to defuse tensions.[10] [11] The BMC coordinated with these border guards to counter attacks by the TFSA.[11] The group maintained a presence in several villages that bordered on Turkish-held territories, and repeatedly clashed with Turkish-backed forces.[12]

After the village of Arima was formally placed under Syrian Army control on 25 December 2018 following a deal between the SDF and the Syrian government,[13] [14] the BMC (along with the Manbij Military Council and Kurdish Front) was one of the SDF units which maintained a presence in the village.[15] In early January 2019, several clashes took place between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA, previously known as the TFSA) and the BMC near Arima.[16] [17] In response, BMC fighters, led by their commander Jamal Abu Juma, conducted joint patrols with Russian Armed Forces soldiers in the area where the joint SDF-Syrian Army zone bordered on Turkish-held territories.[18] [19] Sporadic fighting continued between the BMC and SNA.[20]

Structure

The BMC initially consisted of seven militias, two Arab units (Al-Bab Revolutionary Front and Free Arima Battalion), two Kurdish groups (Qebasin Martyrs Brigade and Kieba Martyrs Brigade), one Turkmen militia (Seljuq Brigade), and two ethnically mixed units (Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion and Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade).[4]

In October 2016, an all-female battalion was established.[21] This unit started to recruit women among the refugees from al-Bab, especially those who had suffered at the hands of ISIL.[21] [22]

Jamal Abu Juma is the commander of the BMC.[6] [23] [18] By February 2019, he had survived 15 assassination attempts.[24]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed. Hawar News Agency. 4 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009230930/http://en.hawarnews.com/ongoing-battles-in-shahba-a-mercenary-commander-killed/. 9 October 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Military council created for liberation of al-Bab . Rudaw . 14 August 2016 . 15 February 2019.
  3. Web site: SYRIA: New Military Council Formed to Fight Islamic State in Al Bab August 14 . The Daily Telegraph . 14 August 2016 . 15 February 2019.
  4. Web site: Turkish-backed rebels, Syrian Army and Kurdish forces all advance in race to al-Bab. al-Masdar News. 26 November 2016. 18 February 2019. 24 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224220856/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-backed-rebels-syrian-army-kurdish-forces-advance-race-al-bab/. dead.
  5. Web site: Kurds in Iraq, Syria, outsource captured cities to militias . Paul Iddon . Al-Araby Al-Jadeed . 17 January 2017 . 17 February 2019 .
  6. Web site: Kurdish leader vows to expel Turkish-backed rebels from al-Bab . Zen Adra . al-Masdar News . 16 August 2017 . 18 February 2019 . 18 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218202053/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-leader-vows-expel-turkish-backed-rebels-al-bab/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Anniversary statement of establishment of Al-Bab military council to Al-Bab city and its countryside . SDF Press . 14 August 2017 . 18 February 2019 .
  8. Web site: Al-Bab Military Council condemned Turkey's occupation practices . Hawar News Agency . 10 June 2018 . 18 February 2019 .
  9. Web site: Commander in al-Bab: Al-Bab Families' Gathering is positive step towards liberation . Hawar News Agency . 31 January 2019 . 18 February 2019 .
  10. Web site: A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?. Verify. 6 March 2017. 1 August 2020. 25 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170725072313/http://www.verify-sy.com/A-Border-Police-of-Assad-regime--or-a-commander-in-SDF-factions-/614/International-media/en. dead.
  11. Web site: Abu Juma: We coordinate with border guards responding to al-Bab calls to rid them of mercenaries . Hawar News Agency . 3 January 2019 . 18 February 2019 .
  12. Web site: Hawar news agency's outline 12-6-2018 . Hawar News Agency . 13 June 2018 . 18 February 2019 .
  13. News: Breaking: Kurdish forces handover town near Manbij to Syrian Army. Al Masdar News. 25 December 2018. 15 February 2019. 24 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624161631/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-kurdish-forces-handover-town-near-manbij-to-syrian-army/. dead.
  14. News: Assad regime forces enter YPG-held village west of Syria's Manbij. Daily Sabah. 25 December 2018 . 15 February 2019.
  15. News: Intense traffic in Arima against occupation . ERSİN ÇAKSU. ANF News. 29 December 2018 . 15 February 2019.
  16. News: Clashes between al-Bab Military Council, mercenaries of Turkey east of al-Bab city-Updated . ANF News. 1 January 2019 . 15 February 2019.
  17. News: Bab Military Council Commander: Turkish attacks target civilians . ANF News. 7 January 2019 . 15 February 2019.
  18. News: Bab Military Council and Russian forces go on joint patrol . ANF News. 9 January 2019 . 15 February 2019.
  19. News: A week after the withdrawal of about 250 fighters to the east of Euphrates, Russia continues to run joint patrols with the military council of al-Bab of SDF in Manbij countryside . SOHR . 10 January 2019 . 15 February 2019.
  20. News: Turkey's mercenaries attacked Bab Military Council positions . ANF News. 17 February 2019 . 15 February 2019.
  21. Web site: Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion. 1 November 2016. 4 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161105234328/http://aranews.net/2016/11/inspired-kurdish-ypj-units-al-bab-military-council-launches-female-battalion-fight-isis/. 5 November 2016.
  22. News: Syrian women saved from Isis by female Kurdish fighters set up their own women-only battalion. https://web.archive.org/web/20161102160539/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-isis-battle-latest-all-women-battalion-al-bab-manbij-a7391671.html . 2016-11-02 . limited . live . Bethan McKernan . The Independent . 1 November 2016 . 15 February 2019.
  23. News: Distribution battles among occupation forces in al-Bab . ANF News . 13 June 2018 . 15 February 2019.
  24. News: ISIS On Brink of Territorial Defeat In Syria . Veronique de Viguerie . Getty Images Reportage . 7 February 2019 . 15 February 2019.

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