Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades
Union of Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades | |
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تجمع كتائب الفرات جرابلس Tajmu Kata'ib Furat Jarabulus Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades insignia | |
Active | 2012—present |
Ideology | Democracy[1] |
Groups |
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Leaders | |
Headquarters | Manbij, Aleppo Governorate |
Area of operations | Aleppo Governorate |
Part of | |
Allies | |
Opponents | |
Battles and wars |
The Union of Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades (Arabic: تجمع كتائب الفرات جرابلس; Tajmu Kata'ib Furat Jarabulus) is a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and later the Syrian Democratic Forces which operates in northern Syria. Formed in 2012, the group has been led by several members of the influential al-Jader family from the town of Jarabulus and the nearby town of Karkamış in Turkey.[4]
History
The Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades was founded by members of the al-Jader tribe in mid-2012 in the town of Jarabulus when it was still under Syrian government control. After the 2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes the FSA captured Jarabulus and the group became part of the al-Tawhid Brigade. As part of al-Tawhid, the group participated in the Battle of Aleppo in late 2012 which led to the capture of the Aleppo Infantry School and the commander, Yousef al-Jader (nom de guerre Abu Furat al-Jarabulusi), was killed in action during the battle.[2] Just before the battle, he, a Syrian Army defector himself, called on the members of the Infantry School to defect and dozens of them did.[5]
After the capture of Jarabulus by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in mid-2013, Kata'ib Furat Jarabulus moved its headquarters to the town of Zur Maghar, which is controlled by the YPG. The group attempted to reenter Jarabulus with other FSA factions but they were repelled by ISIL which killed dozens of their fighters. The brigade then formed an alliance with the YPG in the Kobane Canton.[1] After a battle between Liwa al-Tawhid and ISIL in Jarabulus, 6 members of the Jader family, among dozens of dissents, were beheaded by ISIL in January 2014.[6]
In late 2014, the Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades joined the Euphrates Volcano and the Dawn of Freedom Brigades.[7] And in November 2015, the group joined the Syrian Democratic Forces.[1]
In late 2016, just after the Manbij offensive which captured the city of Manbij from ISIL and before the Jarabulus offensive, the commander of Furat Jarabulus and the newly-formed Jarabulus Military Council Abdul Sattar al-Jader was assassinated by sniper fire from unknown assailants.[3] Muhammad Ahmed replaced his post as commander amid heavy clashes between the JMC and rival Syrian rebels, backed by the Turkish Armed Forces.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "Who are the Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades?". Hawar News Agency. 22 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Remembering Abu Furat". Darth Nader. 15 December 2012.
- 1 2 "Kurds accuse Turkish intelligence of assassinating military leader in Syria's Jarabulus". ARA News. 24 August 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Clashes break out between Turkish-backed rebels and Syrian Democratic Forces". ARA News. 25 August 2016.
- ↑ "Social Media Buzz: Rebels Lose a Charismatic Commander". News Deeply. 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "Al-Qaeda slaughters on Syria's killing fields". Al-Jazeera. 22 January 2016.
- ↑ "Dawn of Freedom Brigades:Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades". Dawn of Freedom Brigades/Youtube. 20 July 2014.