Syrian Resistance

Not to be confused with Syrian opposition.
Syrian Resistance
المقاومة السورية
Participant in Syrian Civil War


Syrian Resistance SSI and flag
Active 2011[1] – present
Ideology Socialist patriotism
Marxism–Leninism
Leaders Mihraç Ural
Headquarters Latakia
Area of operations

Syria

Strength 2,000[4]
Allies Syrian Armed Forces
National Defence Force
DHKP-C
Opponents Free Syrian Army
Al-Nusra Front
Islamic State of Iraq and Levant
Battles and wars

Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Resistance (Al Muqāwamat al-Sūriyah, Arabic: المقاومة السورية), formerly known as the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Sanjak of Iskandarun (Arabic: الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير لواء اســكندرون), is a pro-government Syrian armed group operating in northwest Syria, claiming a Marxist–Leninist ideology.[3]

History

The movement is led by Mihraç Ural, a Turkish Alawite who has Syrian citizenship.[6] Ali Kayyali (علي كيالي) was his name in Syria.[7] According to Today's Zaman, Ural was the leader of a clandestine insurgent cell in Hatay Province called the Turkish Peoples' Liberation Party-Front Acilciler ("The Urgent Ones"). Zaman further alleged that Ural's group has sought to agitate Hatay's sizable Alawite population into confrontation with the Turkish authorities and has also recruited local Alawites to fight in Syria on behalf of the government.[8]

Though the group openly espouses a broadly-inclusive platform of Syrian nationalism in addition to secular leftism, it has been claimed that its primary focus is the defence of the Alawite and Twelver Shi’a religious minorities of Syria.[3] The Syrian Resistance has been accused by the Syrian opposition of being a sectarian Alawite militia, and of having carried out bombings and attacks in Turkey and on villages in Syria.[9][10] Specifically, it has been accused of participating in the Bayda and Baniyas massacres, and footage shows Mihraç Ural rallying for the "cleansing" of Sunni coastal areas.[3][11][12] However, Sheikh Muwaffaq al-Ghazal, a member of the Islamic Alawi Council, claims it has an inclusive national line regarding religion, race and gender.[13]

On March 29, 2016, Mihraç Ural was reportedly killed by Ahrar al-Sham.[11] However, his death has not been fully confirmed.[12] On 10 July 2016 he disproved his death by live streaming on YouTube for two hours.

In late July 2016, the Syrian Resistance send reinforcement contingents from Hama to Aleppo in order to support the pro-government forces during the 2016 Aleppo campaign. In course of the campaign, they were deployed both in the northern city at the Castello road front, as well as in the south where rebel forces launched a counter-offensive.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lund, Aron (23 July 2013). "Gangs of Latakia: The Militiafication of the Assad Regime". Syria Comment. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Fadel, Leith. "Syrian Army Captures Final Oil Well at Al-Sha'ar; Nusra Losing Ground in Idlib". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "A Case Study of "The Syrian Resistance," a Pro-Assad Militia Force". Syria Comment. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Albayrak, Aydin. "Mihraç Ural, a man with a long history of terrorism". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 September 2016). "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Mihraç Ural, a man with a long history of terrorism". Todayszaman.com. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  7. ↑ far. "مصادر أمنية تركية تؤكد مقتل معراج أورال في ريف اللاذقية". القدس العربي Alquds Newspaper. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Group tries to recruit Hatay Alevis into Assad army". Today's Zaman. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Rise of the militias". Now.mmedia.me. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Syria Comment » Archives Do the Massacres in Bayda and Banyas Portend Ethnic Cleansing to Create an Alawite State? - Syria Comment". Syria Comment. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Mihraç Ural, top terrorist sought by Turkey fighting in Assad regime ranks, killed in clashes in Syria". DailySabah. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Death of Mihrac Ural not yet confirmed: militia, regime SYRIA NEWS - ZAMAN ALWSL". SYRIA NEWS - ZAMAN ALWSL. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "Syria: Secularism Takes a Backseat in Latakia". Al Akhbar English. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
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