Northern Democratic Brigade Explained

Northern Democratic Brigade
Native Name:Arabic: لواء الشمال الديمقراطي|Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati
War:the Syrian Civil War
Active:c. 2013 – present
Ideology:Democracy[1]
Syrian nationalism
Anti-Neo-Ottomanism[2]
Anti-racism
Anti-Islamism
Federalization of Syria
Democratic confederalism[3]
Leaders:
Headquarters:
Area:Northern Syria
Size: 1200–1300
Partof: Free Syrian Army

Syrian Democratic Forces (since Nov. 2015)[8]

Predecessor:al-Qa'qa' Brigade
Allies:
Opponents:
Battles:

The Northern Democratic Brigade (Arabic: لواء الشمال الديمقراطي|Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati) is a Free Syrian Army unit that is closely allied to the Syrian Kurdish YPG and YPJ in Afrin Region since 2014. Led by Absi Taha, Alexander Khalil, and Alexander Alaa, it also joined the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in November 2015. The initial members of the group originated from Jabal Zawiya in Idlib, and it has recruited Arabs from Idlib, Aleppo, and other cities in northern Syria since allying with the YPG. Since joining the SDF, the unit has begun to operate across much of northern and eastern Syria, participating in operations against anti-SDF Syrian opposition factions, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the Syrian National Army.

Etymology

The unit is generally called "Northern Democratic Brigade", although its Arabic name is more correctly translated as "Brigade of the Democratic North". It is also called "Forces of the Democratic North" (Quwat al-Shamal al-Dimoqrati). It is known as "Northern Democratic Brigade" since 2015.[12] Before this date, the militia was called "al-Qa'qa' Brigade"(Arabic: لواء القعقاع).[4] [13]

History

Formation and alliance with the YPG

The unit was formed in Idlib Governorate around 2013 and was originally operating as the Free Syrian Army's al-Qa'qa' Brigade, part of the Free Zawiya Brigade based in the Jabal Zawiya region of Idlib.[4] In the course of 2014, it first joined the Free Syria Brigade, and then switched to the Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF).[14] [15] When the SRF moved closer to radical Islamist groups, it expelled the al-Qa'qa' Brigade,[13] whereupon the militia became part of the Syrian Salvation Front in May 2014.[14] At the time, the unit repeatedly clashed with jihadist factions in Aleppo and Idlib.[15] When the al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict broke out, the al-Qa'qa' Brigade, then as part of the Syrian Salvation Front's Free Zawiya Union, was pushed out of the region by the al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Aqsa, and Ahrar al-Sham by November 2014,[14] and withdrew north to the YPG-held Afrin Canton.[13] According to the unit's spokesman, the Northern Democratic Brigade was officially organized by Absi Taha ("Abu Omar al-Idlibi") in early 2015. Its initial members were survivors of the Syrian Salvation Front.[12] However, it continued to be called "al-Qa'qa' Brigade" during the following months.

In November 2015, the al-Qa'qa' Brigade was one of several FSA groups from the Idlib and Aleppo Governorates that officially joined the newly founded Syrian Democratic Forces,[16] and also became part of the Army of Revolutionaries. Soon after its accession into the SDF and the Army of Revolutionaries, the al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham accused the al-Qa'qa' Brigade of apostasy and launched an attack on the SDF in northern Aleppo.[17] Nevertheless, the unit managed to send some of its forces to the Kobanî and Jazira Cantons to fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), for example taking part in the offensive to capture al-Hawl.[18] By January 2016, one of the al-Qa'qa' Brigade's leaders, Abu Omar al-Idlibi, was appointed the military commander of the Army of Revolutionaries.[19] Nevertheless, the brigade eventually left the Army of Revolutionaries in February 2016. By this point, the unit was generally known by its new name "Northern Democratic Brigade", and became an independent group within the SDF.

Continued operations against pro-Turkish forces and ISIL

In August 2016, the Northern Democratic Brigade and other pro-SDF FSA groups condemned the Turkish military intervention in Syria and the international coalition for supporting it, accusing the Turkish-backed forces of committing "massacres" in villages near Jarabulus, and announced their support for the SDF's Jarabulus Military Council.[20] Soon after, the brigade participated in the Western al-Bab offensive against ISIL forces in northern Aleppo, and captured Harbul, Maarat Umm Hawsh, and several other villages in the area.[21] In October 2016, the group participated in the second Western al-Bab offensive, during which it helped to capture the village Tal Malid from the Turkish-backed rebel groups (TFSA). In course of the following Battle of al-Bab, the Northern Democratic Brigade again fought TFSA groups, including at al-Samakia.

In the final phase of the Battle of Aleppo in December 2016, the Northern Democratic Brigade called upon FSA groups encircled in the city to join the SDF, claiming that one local unit, the "Complete Military Battalion" had already joined it.[22] Since June 2017, the Northern Democratic Brigade also sent its fighters to take part in the SDF campaign to capture Raqqa from ISIL. Units from the group were stationed in Tabqa[23] while others participated in the Battle of Raqqa.

On 2 July, the military commander of the unit declared that the Northern Democratic Brigade was ready to help "liberate all Syrian territory from the Turkish occupation" and called on TFSA groups to defect to the SDF. This statement was in response to alleged Turkish plans to invade Afrin Canton and the Shahba region. He repeated this declaration four days later in course of a joint statement by several Arab SDF groups against Turkey.[24] After the Turkish Armed Forces intervened in Idlib Governorate against both Tahrir al-Sham as well as the YPG/YPJ, the Northern Democratic Brigade denounced this move as an attempt of the "Ottoman state" to besiege Aleppo and Afrin. In response, the group announced that it would attempt to form a military council with other FSA remnant factions in order to fight against both the Turkish Army as well as Tahrir al-Sham, affiliated with al-Qaeda, in Idlib. In December 2017, a Northern Democratic Brigade commander also accused Turkey of sending ex-ISIL fighters into Idlib Governorate in order to expand its influence there.

When Turkey began to prepare its military intervention in Afrin, a commander of the Northern Democratic Brigade declared that his men are "ready and are responding to any source of fire";[25] the militia consequently took part in the fighting against the Turkish-backed forces at the villages of Marnaz, Ain Dukna,[26] Shirwa and Mount Lilon in late January 2018.[27] On 6 March 2018, the Northern Democratic Brigade's contingents in eastern Syria, based in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor Governorate, announced that they would be transferred to Afrin.[28] After the Turkish-led forces captured Afrin, the Northern Democratic Brigade mostly relocated to Manbij, even joining the Manbij Military Council.[15]

By September 2018, 25 fighters of the militia completed a special forces training at the Zaqour al-Zawiya camp.[29] By early 2019, the Northern Democratic Brigade had rejoined the Deir ez-Zor campaign against ISIL, and was taking part in the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani.[30]

When Turkey launched an invasion of north-eastern Syria, the Northern Democratic Brigade announced that it would fight with the rest of the SDF against the Turkish-led forces.[31] The unit consequently fought at Ras al-Ayn and Tell Abyad. In late 2020, the group was among the forces defending Ayn Issa from the Turkish military and Syrian National Army.[12]

In August–September 2023, the Northern Democratic Brigade supported operations by the SDF to defeat a tribal uprising in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. At least five members of the militia were killed during the fighting.[32]

Organization

The group's founder is Absi Taha, best known by his nom de guerre "Abu Omar al-Idlibi".[15] [33] As of 2020, Absi Taha acted as the Northern Democratic Brigade commander for the Raqqa area,[15] whereas Alexander Khalil and Alexander Alaa lead the unit's forces stationed in Manbij.[15] [34] [35] Fayyad Abdullah is another commander of the unit,[36] while Khaled Zino serves as spokesperson,[37] and Iyad Khatib is the director of the brigade's political bureau.[29]

Overall the Northern Democratic Brigade consists of 1200 to 1300 fighters.[15] From 2015 to 2020, 46 members of the group have been killed in combat.[12] When the group's founding members retreated from Idlib, they took their families with them; they consequently became refugees living in SDF-held areas. The unit has recruited fighters from Idlib, Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia.[12]

Ideology

See also: Syrian National Democratic Alliance.

The Northern Democratic Brigade portrays itself as Syrian nationalist group[38] that wants to ensure a "colorful and democratic Syria on the basis of co-existence and justice" and thus rejects authoritarianism and Islamism.[13] The militia has also voiced support for the federalization of Syria.[29] As result, it is opposed to both the al-Assad family's rule as well as much of the Syrian opposition, believing that the latter has betrayed the Syrian revolution by allying with Islamist forces. The group also rejects the influence of Turkey and the Gulf states on the Syrian rebels, as it considers these states to be primarily motivated by self-interest instead of genuinely supporting the revolution.[13] The Northern Democratic Brigade believes that Turkey's interventions in the Syrian Civil War are motivated by imperialistic ambitions (Neo-Ottomanism)[2] and has accused it of supporting Jihadists, including ex-ISIL forces.

After allying with the YPG, the militia aligned its ideology with that of the YPG, namely the political thought of PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan. Supportive news sites, most notably Point Media, often show Northern Democratic Brigade fighters waving the Syrian independence flag, but also Öcalan and YPG flags. This has "endeared them to many of the Kurds they work with", but also generated much opposition from other Syrian rebel groups. Furthermore, the Northern Democratic Brigade has joined the left-wing, multi-ethnic Syrian National Democratic Alliance, a party that is active in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.[13] The militia, along with several other SDF groups in the area, attended the second conference of the Syrian National Democratic Alliance in Afrin in late May 2017.[39] The militia aligned itself with the Syria Future Party[29] sometime after the latter's foundation in March 2018.[40]

Alleged misbehavior

According to Syrians for Truth and Justice, the Northern Democratic Brigade confiscated dozens of deserted and unused houses in Raqqa from February 2020. When some owners returned to the city to sell their property or reclaim it, the unit refused to return the houses, citing their previous non-usage and the need to provide a place to live for the brigade's families.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Opposition commander: Turkey is sending ISIS groups to Idlib . ANF News . 19 December 2017 . 20 December 2017.
  2. Web site: A brigade of "Qusd" vows to enter Idlib . . 23 October 2017 . 25 October 2017.
  3. Web site: The launch of the second conference of the National Democratic Alliance Syrian. Hawar News Agency . 24 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170604035353/http://www.hawarnews.com/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84/ . 4 June 2017.
  4. Web site: Idleb 632 014. Step News Agency. June 2014. "...The Qaqaa Brigade, part of Free Zawiya, infiltrated a checkpoint and assassinated Lieutenant Basil Ismail in the city of al-Mastumah...". 2017-06-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20171010120007/http://stepagency-sy.net/archives/204. 2017-10-10. dead.
  5. Web site: EXCLUSIVE - Liwa al-Qaqaa was one of Jaysh al-Thuwar for #Afrin then became autonomous in #SDF as Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati. Syrian Rebellion Obs . 11 November 2016. 28 June 2017.
  6. arisroussinos. 875284357988089856. 15 June 2017 . Northern Democratic Brigade were SRF/FSA rebels in Idlib before being forced out by Jabhat al-Nusra, fled to SDF-held Afrin.
  7. Web site: Armed factions in the "Idlib" announces the formation of "rescue Syria Front". Egypt Independent. 29 May 2014.
  8. News: 15 rebel factions are ready to fight under SDF banner in Aleppo and Idlib . 17 November 2015 . SOHR . 11 May 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120053013/http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/11/15-rebel-factions-are-ready-to-fight-under-sdf-banner-in-aleppo-and-idlib/ . 20 November 2015 .
  9. Empowering the democratic resistance in Syria. Arab Reform Initiative. Kodmani. Bassma. Legrand. Félix. 14 October 2013.
  10. Web site: Kurdish forces capture village in northern Aleppo as the Turkish Army redeploys. Chris Tomson. al-Masdar News. 23 October 2016. 18 June 2017. 3 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203200547/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-forces-capture-village-northern-aleppo-turkish-army-redeploys/. dead.
  11. Web site: Great War for the liberation of Raqqa begins . A.W. . . 6 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170609051250/http://en.hawarnews.com/great-war-for-the-liberation-of-raqqa-begins/ . 9 June 2017 .
  12. Web site: Liwa al-Shamal al-Dimoqrati: Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces . Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi . 21 December 2020 . 24 December 2020.
  13. News: Whose Free Syrian Army? The Arab opposition resisting Turkey's Afrin attacks . Mohammed Elnaiem . The Region . 7 February 2018 . 28 July 2018.
  14. Web site: Victory Front and the Movement of Ahrar al-Sham town surrounded the headquarters of the Syrian Salvation Front in Bowler. Shaam News Network. 2 November 2014.
  15. Web site: Raqqa: The Northern Democratic Brigade Arbitrarily Seizes over 80 Houses . stj-sy.org . 19 December 2017 . 5 January 2021 .
  16. Web site: SDF declares "the start of liberation campaign" of the southern countryside of Ayn al- Arab (Kobani). SOHR. 24 December 2016. 28 June 2017.
  17. Web site: Nusra reportedly attacks newly pledged SDF forces in Aleppo. Syria Direct. 25 November 2015.
  18. Web site: Arab fighters: ready to fight until the liberation of all over Syria. Hawar News Agency. ar. 18 December 2015 . 27 January 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009200505/http://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%83/ . 9 October 2017 .
  19. Web site: Abu Omar: Some of the media want to distort the image of the rebel army. Hawar News Agency. 11 January 2016 . 2 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160111070742/http://www.hawarnews.com/%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%B6-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%88/ . 11 January 2016.
  20. Web site: Rebel factions in northern Aleppo give the U.S led coalition the responsibility . SOHR. 29 August 2016. 28 June 2017.
  21. Web site: Edit Town Herbel In The Aleppo Countryside North By The Revolutionary Factions. Radio Welat. 31 August 2016.
  22. Web site: Liwa Shamal al-Democrati (#SDF) goes on by claiming rebels of Katibat Askari Kamilah of the #FSA have already joined them in #Aleppo. Thomas van Linge. 27 November 2016. 28 June 2017.
  23. Web site: SDF Brigade Denies Fighting with Pro-Assad Forces in al-Tabqa. Latin American Herald Tribune. 12 June 2017. 28 June 2017. 2 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180902220717/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2438486&CategoryId=12395. dead.
  24. Web site: Arab revolutionary factions: we will liberate north of Syria . . 6 July 2017 . 2 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019122226/http://en.hawarnews.com/arab-revolutionary-factions-we-will-liberate-north-of-syria/ . 19 October 2017.
  25. Web site: U.S. Border Plan in Syria Fuels Tensions With Turkey . Sune Engel Rasmussen . Nancy A. Youssef . Dion Nissenbaum . . 17 January 2018 . 27 January 2018.
  26. Web site: https://7al.net/2018/01/24/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%AA/ . ar:مواجهات "هي الأعنف" في عفرين تشهدها جبهتا مرعناز وعين دقنة . "The most violent" confrontations witnessed in Afrin are at Marnaaz and Ain Dukna . 7al.net . ar . 24 January 2018 . 23 February 2018.
  27. Web site: https://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D9%86%D8%A7/ . ar:مقاتلون من إدلب: ندافع عن عفرين وعيوننا على تحرير إدلب . Idlib fighters: We defend Afrin and our eyes are on the liberation of Idlib . Hawar News Agency. ar. 26 January 2018 . 2 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021104/https://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D9%86%D8%A7/ . 28 January 2018.
  28. Web site: "We will withdraw our forces from east of Euphrates, send them to the fronts of Afrin" . Hawar News Agency. 6 March 2018 . 3 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180308041607/http://en.hawarnews.com/we-will-withdraw-our-forces-from-east-of-euphrates-send-them-to-the-fronts-of-afrin/ . 8 March 2018.
  29. Web site: http://www.hawarnews.com/ar/haber/d984d988d8a7d8a1-d8a7d984d8b4d985d8a7d984-d8a7d984d8afd98ad985d982d8b1d8a7d8b7d98a-d98ad8aed8b1d8ac-d8a3d988d984-d8afd988d8b1d8a9-d984d984d982d988d8a7d8aa-d8a7d984d8aed8a7d8b5d8a9-h7240.html . ar:لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يخرج أول دورة للقوات الخاصة . The Northern Democratic Brigade is leaving its first special forces course . . ar . 4 September 2018 . 26 November 2018 .
  30. News: A video by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, shows the clashes in the area of Al-Baghuz farms and its vicinity, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, between the remaining members of the "Islamic State" organization against Liwa al-Shamal al-Democrati (the Northern Democratic Brigade) which operates under the banner of the Syria Democratic Forces . 12 March 2019 . SOHR . 21 March 2019 .
  31. Web site: لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يؤكد مواصلة النضال للدفاع عن مكتسبات المنطقة ضد أي تهديد . The Northern Democratic Brigade affirms the continued struggle to defend the gains of the region against any threat . ANF News . ar . 11 October 2019 . 26 October 2019 .
  32. Web site: Deir Ezzor clashes five days on | 90 people killed and injured in clashes between SDF, "Deir Ezzor Military Council" and loyalists • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.
  33. Web site: Archived: split military commander in (the rebel army) solution to the banner. All4Syria. 16 February 2016. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160217093631/http://www.all4syria.info/Archive/292797. 17 February 2016 .
  34. Web site: Military commander: the sons of Syria will liberate areas of Shahba Turkish occupation. Hawar News Agency. ar. 2 July 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170705040039/http://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%A7/. 5 July 2017.
  35. Web site: Rebel brigade says ready to expel Turkish forces from northern Syria . Wladimir van Wilgenburg . . 3 July 2017 . 2 September 2018 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705183236/http://aranews.net/2017/07/pro-kurdish-group-says-ready-to-combat-turkish-forces-in-northern-syria/ . 5 July 2017.
  36. Web site: The Northern Democratic Brigade brings out the first batch of fighters from Idlib. Hawar News Agency. 19 November 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171122113659/https://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%85/ . 22 November 2017 .
  37. Web site: Afrin buries a fighter from the Arab component. Afrin Canton. ar. 29 December 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009221735/http://cantonafrin.com/ar/news/view/2269.%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A.html . 9 October 2017.
  38. News: Who's who in Syria? . . 27 July 2018 . 28 July 2018.
  39. Web site: The launch of the second conference of the National Democratic Alliance Syrian. Hawar News Agency . 24 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170604035353/http://www.hawarnews.com/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84/ . 4 June 2017.
  40. Web site: What are principles and objectives of Syria Future Party? . AHMON-KHALED AL JUMAH . . 27 April 2018 . 26 November 2018 .

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