Syrian Revolutionary Command Council
| Syrian Revolutionary Command Council | |
|---|---|
|
مجلس قيادة الثورة السورية Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
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Logo of the SRCC | |
| Active | August 2014[1] – late 2015 |
| Groups |
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| Leaders | |
| Area of operations | Syria |
| Opponents |
Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
The Syrian Revolutionary Command Council (Arabic: مجلس قيادة الثورة السورية, translit. Majlis Qiyādat ath-Thawra as-Sūriyya) is an alliance of 72 Syrian rebels factions[3] involved in the Syrian Civil War that was formed on 3 August 2014[1] and remained active throughout 2015.
The aim of the council is to increase the coordination and unity between the different groups, with the council planned to be divided into regional fronts that will be led by councils made up of representatives from the different factions, similar to how the Free Syrian Army was structured.[4] The signatories represent both secularists and Islamists; however terrorist group Al-Nusra Front and some of its allies were excluded.[5] Initially Ahrar ash-Sham was also excluded, however the group did join the alliance at a later date.[6] The group announced its charter on 4 October 2014.[7] It held its first formal meeting in Gaziantep, Turkey on 29 November 2014.[3] Syrian Kurds were also notably absent.
Conflict within the coalition
Early on in the coalition's existence, tensions existed between moderate rebels and their Islamist compatriots. Jabhat al-Nusra stormed the bases of the Ansar Brigades in Idlib and the Haqq Front in Hama on 28 November as the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council was holding its first formal meeting in Turkey. Although Jabhat al-Nusra was excluded from the coalition, many of its allies not only were included but were assigned executive positions.The close relationship between Islamist groups and Jabhat al-Nusra was demonstrated as the two routed groups, both of which were receiving U.S. support through a covert CIA program, were forced to delivered their weapons to Ahrar ash-Sham as part of their surrender to Jabhat al-Nusra.
Immediately following the first formal meeting of the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council, Col. Muhammad Hallak expressed skepticism toward the October document on which the new group is based, saying it was written to ensure an Islamist government after Assad is toppled. Col. Hallak was quoted as saying: “The covenant itself doesn't mention the idea of free elections and most of the groups represented in the executive office don’t believe in the original democratic values of the revolution".[3]
In early December 2014, the Hazzm Movement withdrew its affiliation from the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council as a result of the tensions between moderate and Islamist factions in Syria.[8] In the same time period, the southern branch of the Syria Revolutionaries Front declared that they have no connection to the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council.[8] The Hazzm Movement and the Syria Revolutionaries Front had been routed in the northern province of Idlib by Jabhat al-Nusra and its allies in November.[9]
As on late 2015, the council appears to no longer be active.
References
- 1 2 "Translation: the Formation of the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council". Goha's Nail. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ "PT: Command Council President is Qais Abdullah Sheikh, Political leader is Mohammed Alloush, Military leader is Lt. Gen. Hajj Ali.". Twitter. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 Alhamadee, Mousab (29 November 2014). "Islamists come out on top in new effort to unify Syrian rebel groups". McClatchy DC. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "New alliance could signal end of Islamic Front". As-Safir. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ "Opposition backers strengthen jihadists by shunning moderate Islamists". The National (Abu Dhabi). 5 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ "Syria's Ahrar al-Sham Leadership Wiped Out in Bombing". Carnegie Endowment of International Peace. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ "مبادرة " واعتصموا " : ميثاق مجلس قيادة الثورة السورية .". YouTube. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- 1 2 "New Syrian opposition grouping fails to entice major rebel factions". Reuters. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ↑ "Nusra Front advances in Syria's Idlib". Al Jazeera and agencies. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
External links
- Syrian Revolutionary Command Council YouTube Channel (most recent post 24 June 2015)
- Syrian Revolutionary Command Council Twitter account (most recent post 29 October 2015)
