The Sham Legion ( Arabic : فَيْلَق الشَّام , Faylaq al-Shām ) is an alliance of Sunni Islamist rebel groups formed in March 2014, during the Syrian Civil War . The alliance was formed from 19 different groups, some of which were previously affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood of Syria and the Shields of the Revolution Council .
41-620: The Sham Legion was formed on 10 March 2014 from 19 Islamist rebel groups in Syria. These groups operated from the Aleppo Governorate to Damascus , but were concentrated in the Idlib , Hama , and Homs governorates. The formation aimed to "unify the ranks" of non- al-Qaeda -affiliated Islamist rebels in Syria. After its formation, the group took part in the Battle of Morek and Khan Shaykhun in 2014. Upon
82-588: A "key member" of the campaign's Olive Branch Operations' Room. Rahim stated that the operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Afrin District intended to "liberate the area from all kinds of terrorism and protect civilians, Arabs and Kurds " and that the TFSA would attempt to avoid civilian casualties. On 7 February 2018, Rahim was dismissed from his position as commander without explanation, and
123-500: A 221-kilometre (137 mi) long northern boundary with the Kilis , Gaziantep , and Şanlıurfa provinces of Turkey . To the east lies Raqqa Governorate , to the south Ḥamā Governorate , and to the west Idlib Governorate and Turkey's Hatay Province . The governorate lies on a plateau known as the Aleppo plateau . The eastern and northern boundaries of the governorate correspond roughly to
164-511: A member group. As part of the Army of Conquest, the Sham Legion took part in the Battle of Idlib and the subsequent Idlib and wider Northwestern Syria offensives . On 26 April 2015, along with six other major Aleppo -based rebel groups ( Ahrar al-Sham , Jaysh al-Islam , Fastaqim Union , Levant Front , Levant Revolutionaries Battalions, and Dawn of Caliphate Battalions), the Sham Legion established
205-559: A newly created district since 2009, formerly belonging to Al-Bab District. Aleppo Governorate has a semi-arid climate. The mountain series that runs along the Mediterranean coast, namely Mount Alawites and Mount Amanus, largely block the effects of the Mediterranean on climate (rain shadow effect). The average temperature in the governorate is 15–20 °C (59–68 °F). The average precipitation ranges from 500 mm (20 in) in
246-520: A population of more than 4,867,000 (2011 Est.), almost 23% of the total population of Syria. The governorate is the fifth in area with an area of 18,482 km (7,136 sq mi), or 18,498 km , about 10% of the total area of Syria. The capital is the city of Aleppo . In Classical antiquity , the region was made up of three regions: Chalybonitis (with its centre at Chalybon or Aleppo), Chalcidice (with its center at Qinnasrin العيس), and Cyrrhestica (with its center at Cyrrhus النبي حوري). This
287-596: A stronger integration of Aleppo with the economy of the Ottoman heartland in Anatolia . It also paved the way for European capitalists to exploit agricultural resources of the region and caused internal trade to shift into the hands of European merchants. In the early 20th century, during the French Mandate the region was part of the short-lived State of Aleppo . Aleppo Governorate formerly included Idlib Governorate , until
328-639: Is called in Syria fustuq Ḥalabī (Aleppo pistachio). Rivers traditionally supported agriculture; the main rivers in Aleppo are the Quwēq, 'Ifrīn, Sājūr , Dhahab, Aswad , and Euphrates. However, all of these rivers arise in Turkey, and due to irrigation projects on the Turkish side of the border, the flow of these rivers dropped so much that most of them could no longer support agriculture. The Quwēq, for example, dried up completely in
369-736: The Abbasid period the region was under the independent rule of the Hamdanids . The Mamluks and then later the Ottomans governed the area until 1918; under the Ottomans, the region was part of the Vilayet of Aleppo . During the Tanzimat era of Ottoman governance in Aleppo, the authorities established the 1858 land reform law along with schemes to introduce new Bedouin settlers to northern Syria. These programs led to
410-530: The Dhahab river valley in the east of Aleppo Governorate. The Dhahab drains the highlands north of Bāb and runs in a north–south direction for about 50 km (31 mi) until it drains into Lake Jabboul . West of the Dhahab valley the terrain rises again forming Mount 'Aqīl (Mount Taymar) west of Bāb and Mount Ḥaṣṣ west of Lake Jabboul. The terrain sinks again forming the valley of River Quwēq . The endpoint of Quwēq,
451-572: The Fatah Halab joint operations room. Major Yasser Abdul Rahim, field commander of the Sham Legion, was appointed commander of Fatah Halab, a position he maintained until government forces recaptured all of Aleppo in December 2016. Between 2014 and 2016, the Sham Legion was at one point a rebel group vetted by the United States and received BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles from it. In January 2016,
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#1732852583370492-598: The Free Idlib Army was its deputy commander, and Major Muhammad Mansour of the Army of Victory was its chief of staff . On 1 August, Ahmad Sarhan ("Abu Satif") of the Suqour al-Sham Brigades and Walid al-Mushayil ("Abu Hashim") of Jaysh al-Ahrar were named as the group's new first and second deputy commanders, respectively, while Walid al-Mushayil ("Abu Hashim") of Ahrar al-Sham was appointed chief of staff. On 4 June 2018,
533-794: The Martyrs of Islam Brigade , part of the National Front for Liberation, joined the Sham Legion, also part of the NFL. On 1 August, the Syrian Liberation Front , which was formed by Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in February 2018, as well as Jaysh al-Ahrar and the Damascus Gathering, joined the formation. On 5 August, the NFL arrested 45 people accused of attempting to reconcile with
574-527: The Syrian Civil War , many Aleppo based commerce have now relocated across the border into Turkey, especially Gaziantep . Economic conditions have deteriorated in the Aleppo region and have caused prices of goods to rise. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and reductions in the Euphrates' river water levels are expected to cause a major impact on water and electricity access as well as food security within
615-654: The Syrian National Army (SNA) fighting in the Syrian Civil War . The group was formed by 11 rebel factions in northwestern Syria in May 2018, and was officially announced on 28 May 2018. The formation receives major support from Turkey . The group joined the SNA on 4 October 2019. From 28 May to 1 August 2018, Colonel Fadlallah al-Haji of the Sham Legion was the group's overall commander, Lieutenant Colonel Suhaib Leoush of
656-456: The Syrian government in al-Ghab Plain and Mount Shashabo in the western Hama countryside. On 13 August, the crackdown campaign was expanded to Maarat al-Nu'man and Ariha . On 9 August, the NFL's Sham Legion launched an attack on a People's Protection Units (YPG) cell in the southeastern Afrin countryside, killing four YPG fighters and capturing small arms and ammunition. On 14 August,
697-441: The 1950s. The vanishing of the rivers forced farmers to depend largely on rainfall and on water diverted from the Euphrates. A pumping station at Maskanah (95 km east of Aleppo) provides drinking water for Aleppo from the Euphrates. Recently Euphrates water has been diverted to revive the dead Qwēq river, and thus revive agriculture in the plains south of Aleppo. Urban areas, highlands, swamps, forests, and grazing land make up 34% of
738-523: The Army of Glory, including its deputy commander-in-chief Captain Manaf Maarati and spokesman Captain Mustafa Maarati, reportedly defected to the NFL. On 15 March 2020, Step News Agency reported that Fadlallah al-Haji had resigned from his position on the orders of the Turkish government. The move came after the discovery of a large-scale embezzlement involving the Sham Legion and other groups within
779-672: The Imam Ali Battalion joined the Free North Brigade. In January 2019, following defeat at the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , Nour al-Zenki left Idlib for the north, leaving the NFL. On 26 March 2019, the National Front for Liberation released a statement declaring its rejection and condemnation of the United States recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israel . During the Syrian military ’s Northwestern Syria offensive (April 2019–present) against rebel-held territory,
820-575: The Lake of 17 April on the River Ifrīn and the revived Shabā Lake on River Quwēq. Archaeological sites are abundant in the governorate, especially at Mount Simeon in the west and the plains that extend beyond towards Antioch and Idlib . This region, known as the Limestone Massif , has the largest concentration of Late Antiquity churches in the world, with a unique Syrian architectural style. It also has
861-972: The Levant was largely removed from the area after the Syrian Arab Army launched the East Aleppo Offensive , the Maskanah Plains offensive , and the Southern Raqqa Offensive . In January 2018, the Turkish army backed by the Free Syrian Army launched the Turkish military operation in Afrin against the YPG , which resulted in the capture of the city of Afrin and the entire Afrin District . The governorate has
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#1732852583370902-623: The Maṭkh swamp (249 metres (817 ft)), is the lowest point in Aleppo Governorate. West of the Quwēq is Mount Simeon . South of Mount Simeon is the plains of Idlib. The river 'Afrīn runs west of Mount Simeon. To the west of river 'Afrīn, the land rises again forming Mount Kurd . The highest point in the governorate, Mount Bulbul (1,269 metres (4,163 ft)), is located in the northern part of Mount Kurd. River 'Ifrīn runs from north to south between Mount Simeon and Mount Kurd and then turns west to
943-595: The NFL cooperated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the battle over Kfar Nabuda in Idlib, May 2019. It also cooperated with the Army of Glory , and other rebel groups to counter the offensive. It merged with the SNA in October 2019. According to Middle East Eye , neither the NFL nor SNA fighters had been informed of the merger, which was announced at a press conference in Urfa , southern Turkey. On 9 October 2019, 500 fighters from
984-776: The NFL who misrepresented the amount of fighters within their ranks in order to receive extra salaries from their Turkish ally. Turkey requested the NFL to prepare between 2,000 and 3,000 fighters to prepare for a Turkish Armed Forces -led military offensive against the Syrian Armed Forces in the western Aleppo Governorate in the event of the Russia–Turkey ceasefire breaking down, but the NFL only equipped 350 fighters after submitting 14,000 fake names to Turkey. However, Enab Baladi contacted Captain Naji Mustafa, who denied that al-Haji had resigned, and al-Haji continues to serve as
1025-762: The Northern Brigade was formed as part of the Sham Legion in the Aleppo Governorate . The group participated in Operation Euphrates Shield , which began on 24 August 2016 in Jarabulus and aimed to expel the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State from the northern Aleppo Governorate. Following the campaign, the Sham Legion became involved in inter-rebel conflict between the different Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) factions. On 30 May 2017, after increasing inter-rebel conflict in northern Aleppo,
1066-541: The Orontes valley, thus separating Mount Kurd from Mount Ḥārim to the south. The governorate is generally deforested except for a dispersed forest of about 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) on the eastern slope of Mount Kurd where it faces the plain of A'zaz . The main trees are Aleppo pine and oak . Arable land makes up 66% of the total area in the governorate. The main crops are olives, figs, plums, pomegranates, vegetables, grains, rice, and pistachios. Pistachio
1107-629: The Sham Legion expelled the Northern Brigade from its ranks and dismissed its commander, Captain Mustafa Rami al-Kuja. The Sham Legion, along with six other TFSA groups, formed the Victory Bloc in June 2017, while the Free North Brigade, formerly part of the al-Tawhid Brigade , joined the Sham Legion on 16 June 2017. The Sham Legion also took part in the Turkish military intervention in Afrin in 2018, with its chief commander Major Yasser Abdul Rahim serving as
1148-587: The capital of the Governorate, Aleppo, in December 2016 from Fatah Halab coalition. In August 2016, the Turkish Army , backed by the Free Syrian Army launched the Operation Euphrates Shield in order to drive ISIL from the border towns of Jarablus , A'zaz and Al-Bab . The operation resulted in success and starting in May 2017, the region is now under Turkish occupation . The Islamic State of Iraq and
1189-499: The eastern and northern boundaries of the plateau, although the northeastern portion of the governorate crosses the Euphrates valley into the Jazīrah plateau. The southeastern end of the governorate is continuous with the arid steppe of the northern Syrian Desert . To the south lie the eastern plains of Hama, and to the southwest lie the northern plains of Idlib. The average elevation of
1230-439: The famous Dead Cities of Syria. The following cities are the administrative centres of the districts in Aleppo Governorate (Population based on 2004 official census): The governorate is divided into ten districts ( manatiq ) as of 2011. The districts are further divided into 46 sub-districts ( nawahi ): - includes Aleppo City - a newly created district since 2008, formerly belonging to Mount Simeon District -
1271-640: The formation of the group, it immediately distanced itself from the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in order to win Saudi aid . The group also sent advisers to support Libya Dawn forces based in Tripoli , which were fighting against the Libyan National Army . On 24 March 2015, the Army of Conquest , an alliance of Sunni Islamist and Salafist jihadist groups in Syria, was announced, with the Sham Legion as
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1312-510: The group released a video showing the training of its self-proclaimed "Unit 82 SWAT Forces". On the same day, a group of around 200 fighters formed the Free Hayan Brigade and joined the NFL in order to "unite factions", "fight forces of the Syrian regime", and avoid rebel infighting . The next day, the Free North Brigade, which operates around the same area, also joined the NFL. On 27 August,
1353-500: The latter was split off circa 1960. The governorate has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the Syrian Civil War . In June 2017, nearly six years after the war's start, the province was almost equally divided between Syrian Government forces, Syrian Opposition forces, Turkish Army / TFSA and the Rojava / Syrian Democratic Forces . After fierce fighting, the Syrian Arab Army with Russian air support managed to take control of
1394-530: The overall commander of the formation. On 4 June, the Martyrs of Islam Brigade , also part of the NFL, joined the Sham Legion. On 26 October 2020, Russian warplanes targeted a training camp of the Sham Legion, near Kafr Takharim in Idlib Governorate. The strike killed at least 78 fighters and wounded over 100 more. The director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, called
1435-409: The region. As per the 2004 Syrian census, the population was 4,045,200. A 2011 UNOCHA estimate put the population at 4,867,900, though this has likely changed since the start of the war. National Front for Liberation May–August 2018: The National Front for Liberation ( Arabic : الجبهة الوطنية للتحرير , Al-Jabhat al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir ) is a Syrian rebel coalition that is part of
1476-454: The strike the heaviest attack since the beginning of the ceasefire in March 2020. A rebel spokesman gave estimates of more than 170 fighters dead or were wounded. Aleppo Governorate Aleppo Governorate ( Arabic : محافظة حلب / ALA-LC : Muḥāfaẓat Ḥalab / [muˈħaːfaðˤat ˈħalab] ) is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria . It is the most populous governorate in Syria with
1517-475: The terrain is 379 metres (1,243 ft). The surface gradually slopes down in north–south and west–east directions, undulating gently with an amplitude of 10–30 m for each wave. The lowlands are covered with combined Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments that average 4–5 km in thickness over the whole surface. Starting from the valley of the Euphrates, the terrain rises forming the Manbij plain, and then sinks again at
1558-610: The total area of the governorate. The remaining 14% is a desert area in the southeast that is continuous with the Syrian Desert and known as the Aleppo Desert (Arabic: بادية حلب). The largest lake in the governorate is lake Sabkhat al-Jabbul , a Ramsar salt lake located 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Aleppo. Lake Assad (the largest lake in Syria) separates Aleppo Governorate from Raqqa Governorate. Other artificial lakes include
1599-427: The western parts of the governorate to 200 mm (8 in) in the easternmost parts and 150 mm (6 in) in the southeastern desert. 80% of precipitation occurs between October and March. Snow is usually in winter. The average humidity is 60% in the west and 55% in the east. Hong Kong Observatory (sun 1961–1990) Agricultural output from Aleppo mainly focuses on cereal and cotton production. However, since
1640-410: Was replaced by Khaldun Mador ("Abu Jamil"). Khaldun, reportedly the third highest-ranking commander of the Sham Legion. Rahim went on to join the Glory Corps . In May 2018, along with 10 other rebel groups in northwestern Syria, the Sham Legion formed the National Front for Liberation , which was officially announced on 28 May. Colonel Fadlallah al-Haji , commander of the Sham Legion, was appointed as
1681-417: Was the most fertile and populated region in Syria. Under the Romans, the region was made in 193 CE part of the province of Coele-Syria or Magna Syria, which was ruled from Antioch . The province of Euphratensis was established in the 4th century CE in the east, its centre was Hierapolis Bambyce ( Manbij ). Under the Rashidun and Umayyad Muslim dynasties, the region was part of the Jund Qinnasrin . In