Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham

Not to be confused with the Republican Guard-affilated Liwa Sayf al-Haq Assad Allah al-Ghalib[1] or the Syrian opposition-affilated Assad Allah al-Ghalib Gathering.[2]
Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham
Participant in the Syrian Civil War

Emblem of Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib

Emblem of Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib
Active 2013[3] – present
Ideology Vilayat-e Faqih[3]
Anti-Americanism[4]
Leaders Secretary-General Sheikh Abdallah al-Shaibani[5]
Area of operations

 Syria

 Iraq
Part of Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas network[3]
Allies

Syrian Armed Forces

Iran Iran
Badr Organization[3]
Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada[3]
Liwa Dhulfiqar[5]
Liwa al-Imam al-Hussein[3]
Opponents Free Syrian Army
Islamic Front
Al-Nusra Front
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Battles and wars

The Conquering Lion of God Forces in Iraq and Syria (Arabic: Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham, LAAG for short)[3] is a Shia Muslim militant group operating throughout Syria and Iraq. It is named after the nickname of Imam Ali.[4]

History

Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib was originally set up in late 2013 as part of the Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas network,[3][5] ostensibly to work with other Shia militias to protect the Sayyidah Zaynab shrine,[4] and was initially advised by Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq veterans.[3] Although the group has Syrian members,[6] LAAG primarily recruits Iraqi Shiites since its formation and has built an extensive recruitment network within Iraq.[3][5]

Since mid-August 2013, LAAG began to actively fight for the Syrian government against various Syrian opposition groups. In this capacity, it originally operated almost exclusively in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, notably participating in the Rif Dimashq offensive (March–August 2013)[5] and the Battle of Al-Malihah.[7] This changed after June 2014, when ISIL conquered Mosul, as LAAG set up an Iraq branch.[3] Furthermore, the group, among other Shia militias, deployed forces to Latakia Governorate in early 2015, when Sunni rebel forces threatened the local Alawite population.[3] While LAAG returned to rural Rif Dimashq after this first northern foray,[10] it became more active throughout Syria afterwards. In late 2015, LAAG sent fighters to Aleppo for the Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015),[8] and in early 2016 it returned to the Syrian coastal highlands to participate in a local government offensive.[9] At the same time, the group also began to provide advisors for Suqur al-Sahara.[6] Meanwhile, LAAG had joined forces with Harakat al-Abdal in Iraq, "a stalwart Iraqi Shiite proxy of Iran", and developed close links with the Badr Organization and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (16 September 2015). "Liwa Sayf al-Haq Assad Allah al-Ghalib: A Republican Guard Militia in Sayyida Zainab". Syria Comment. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Albin Szakola (14 July 2015). "Under-fire FSA rebels tout new south Syria offensive". NOW. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Phillip Smyth (8 March 2016). "How Iran Is Building Its Syrian Hezbollah". The Washington Institute. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. "Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib". Jihad Intel. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Phillip Smyth (2 October 2015). "Iran-backed Iraqi militias are pouring into Syria". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (19 February 2016). "Liwa Usud al-Hussein: A New Pro-Assad Militia in Latakia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Regime edges closer to taking key East Ghouta town". Syria Direct. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 Aaron Y. Zelin (30 October 2015). "The Archivist: 'Go Forth, Lightly and Heavily Armed': New Mobilization Calls By the Islamic State in Aleppo Province". Jihadology. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  9. 1 2 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 September 2016). "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Phillip Smyth (31 May 2015). "Iraqi Shiite Fighters on the Rise in Syria". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
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