Supreme Military Council (Syria)

Supreme Military Council
المجلس العسكري الأعلى
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Active 7 December 2012 – Present
Part of Free Syrian Army

The Supreme Military Council (SMC) (Arabic: المجلس العسكري الأعلى‎‎, also called the Supreme Military Command[1] or the Higher Military Council in Aleppo) is the highest military leadership of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). It is headed by Brigadier general Abdelkarim al-Ahmed. The establishment of the organisation was announced on 7 December 2012 with the backing of western and Arab powers as a means of financing and arming Syrian rebel forces.[2][3]

The Supreme Military Council of the FSA supports the Syrian National Council (SNC).[4]

History

On 7 December 2012, 260 rebel commanders from all over Syria agreed to a unified command structure of the Free Syrian Army. The participants elected a 30-member Supreme Military Council, which then selected General Salim Idris as Chief of Staff.[3] The council was created with the backing of western powers and many Arab states as a vehicle to finance and arm rebel groups.[2]

On 16 February 2014, the Supreme Military Council announced that Idris was replaced "with Colonel Abdelilah al-Bashir, head of FSA operations in the province of Qunaitera".[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Factbox: Syrian rebels against opposition coalition". Reuters. 25 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 Stein, Aaron (December 2014). "Stumbling in Iraq and Syria 2011-14". Whitehall Papers. 83 (1).
  3. 1 2 "Rebel groups in Syria make framework for military". The New York Times. 7 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Guide to armed and political opposition". BBC. 17 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Free Syrian Army sacks chief, appoints replacement". Reuters. 16 February 2014.
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