The al-Rahman Legion ( ar, فيلق الرحمن, ''Faylaq al-Raḥmān'') is a
Syrian rebel group that operated in Eastern
Ghouta, in the outskirts of
Damascus, and in the eastern
Qalamoun Mountains
The Qalamoun Mountains ( ar, جبال القلمون, Jabāl al-Qalamūn) are the northeastern portion of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, and they are northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus. They run from Barada River, Barada River Valley in the s ...
. It was the main rebel group in
Jobar
Jobar ( ar, جَوْبَر, Jawbar) also spelled Jawbar, Jober or Joubar, is a municipality of the Syrian capital Damascus. A once historical village on the outskirts of Damascus, it is now a suburb of the capital city. It lies 2 km northeas ...
, and was backed by
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...
. The group's leader is Abdul al-Nasr Shamir, a
captain from rural
Homs who defected from the
Syrian Army in early 2012.
[ The Legion has been described as an " Islamist"][ or as a non-]jihadi
Jihadism is a neologism which is used in reference to "militant Islamic movements that are perceived as existentially threatening to the West" and "rooted in political Islam."Compare: Appearing earlier in the Pakistani and Indian media, Wes ...
/non- Salafi "political Islamist"[Jennifer Cafarella and Genevieve Casagrande, ]
Syrian Armed Opposition Powerbrokers
', Middle East Security Report 29, March 2016, Institute for the Study of War
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a United States–based think tank founded in 2007 by Kimberly Kagan, providing research and analysis regarding issues of defense and foreign affairs. It has produced reports on the Syrian War, the Wa ...
organisation. It describes itself as "a revolutionary military entity aiming for the downfall of the Syrian regime," but does not seek to turn Syria into an Islamic state
An Islamic state is a state that has a form of government based on Islamic law (sharia). As a term, it has been used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world. As a translation of the Arabic term ...
. In 2016, it was described as "one of the oldest standing opposition factions in Damascus and maintains high levels of local legitimacy and support." Under a surrender agreement, over 5,000 of its fighters and associated civilians left Damascus for northwestern Syria in March 2018.
History
2014-2015
The al-Rahman Legion was part of the Unified Military Command of Eastern Ghouta
The Unified Military Command of Eastern Ghouta ( ar, الْقِيَادَةُ الْعَسْكَريَّةُ الْمُوَحَّدَةُ فِي الْغُوطَةِ الشَّرْقيَّةِ, al-Qiyādat al-ʿAskarīyat al-Muwaḥḥadat fī l- ...
, established in 2014, along with Jaysh al-Islam (led by Zahran Alloush
Zahran Alloush ( ar, زَهْرَانُ عَلُّوشٍ, Zahrān ʿAlūš, 1971 – 25 December 2015) was a Syrian Islamist leader active in the Syrian Civil War. He was the commander of Jaysh al-Islam (or Army of Islam), a major component of the ...
) and Ahrar al-Sham.[Oweis, Khaled Yacoub ; Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik -SWP- Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit (Ed.)]
Backbone of the Syrian revolt: inclusion of rural Sunnis key for international efforts to end conflict
Berlin, 2015 (SWP Comments 39/2015). URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-442697 Al-Rahman Legion and Jaysh al-Islam were allied in the Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015)
The Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015), or the battle of "Allah al-Ghalib", was a battle launched by the rebels around Tall Kurdi, Adra and Harasta in Eastern Ghouta.
The offensive
On 11 September, the Jaysh al-Islam grouping launched t ...
, or the battle of "Allah al-Ghalib", around Tall Kurdi, Adra
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA or ADRA International) is a humanitarian agency operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the purpose of providing individual and community development and disaster relief. I ...
, and Harasta
Harasta ( ar, حرستا, Ḥarastā, syr, ܚܪܣܬܐ, Ḥarastā), also known as ''Harasta al-Basal'' or ''Hirista'', is a city and northeastern suburb of Damascus, Rif Dimashq, Syria. Harasta has an altitude of 702 meters. It has a population ...
in Eastern Ghouta. However, after Alloush's death in late 2015 there were conflicts between Jaysh al-Islam and al-Rahman; Ahrar ash-Sham remained neutral.
2016
On 18 February 2016, Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union
The Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union ( ar, الاتحاد الإسلامي لأجناد الشام, ''al-ittihad al-islami li-ajnad al-sham'', "Islamic Union of the Soldiers of the Levant") was an alliance of Sunni Islamist groups affiliated with t ...
fighters based in eastern Ghouta announced the "full incorporation" of its fighters into al-Rahman Legion, though reiterating that its fighters based in the western Damascus suburbs of Darayya
Darayya ( ar, دَارَيَّا, Dārayyā) is a suburb of Damascus in Syria, the centre of Darayya lying south-west of the centre of Damascus. Administratively it belongs to Rif Dimashq.
History and population
Darayya is one of the oldest ...
and Moadammiyyeh as well as in southern Damascus would still operate under the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union banner and were not a part of this merger.
From 18 April until 24 May 2016, the Legion was involved in heavy clashes with rival rebel faction Jaysh al-Islam, while also fighting against government forces in the Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016)
The Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016) was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, that was launched in late April 2016, as part of the Syrian Civil War. The offensive resulted in the military's capture of the southern s ...
. On 26 April 2016, the 1st Brigade of Damascus (then an FSA-affiliated group armed with BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile. TOW replaced much smaller missiles like the SS.10 and ENTAC, offering roughly twice the effective range, a more powerful warhead, and a greatly ...
missiles) left the Southern Front and joined the Legion. However, it left some time later.
On 24 May 2016, leaders of Jaysh al-Islam and al-Rahman Legion met to sign a Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...
i-backed deal to end hostilities after the East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016)
The East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) was an armed conflict between the rebel coalition of Jaish al-Fustat, consisting of the al-Nusra Front and al-Rahman Legion, and the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, that occurred in the rebe ...
, supervised by Riyad Farid Hijab
Riyad Farid Hijab ( ar, رياض فريد حجاب, Riyāḍ Farīd Ḥijāb; born 1966) is a Syrian people, Syrian politician. He was Prime Minister of Syria from June to August 2012, serving under President of Syria, President Bashar al-Assad. ...
. On 14 June 2016, clashes erupted again, with the al-Rahman Legion taking control of several zones previously held by Jaysh al-Islam in the southern part of Eastern Ghouta.
In late July 2016, the al-Nusra Front clashed with the al-Rahman Legion in Zamalka
Zamalka ( ar, زملكا) is a town of Damascus in Syria, located east-northeast of Old Damascus. It is administratively a part of the Markaz Rif Dimashq District of the Rif Dimashq Governorate. Nearby localities include Jobar and Qaboun to wes ...
, Markaz Rif Dimashq District
Markaz Rif Dimashq District ( ar-at, منطقة مركز ريف دمشق, manṭiqat Markaz Rif Dimašq) or Damascus Central Countryside District is a district of the Rif Dimashq Governorate
Rif Dimashq Governorate ( ar, محافظة ريف د ...
over a dispute about Friday prayers
In Islam, Friday prayer or Congregational prayer ( ar, صَلَاة ٱلْجُمُعَة, ') is a prayer ('' ṣalāt'') that Muslims hold every Friday, after noon instead of the Zuhr prayer. Muslims ordinarily pray five times each day according ...
in one of the mosques of Zamalka town. In this period, the Legion was among the combatants in the Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016)
The Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016) is a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate that was launched in late June 2016, as part of the Syrian Civil War. The offensive resulted in the military's capture of parts of the ...
.
On 21 October 2016, fighters from the al-Rahman Legion opened fire on protesters demanding the formation of a joint military operations room between Jaysh al-Islam and the Rahman Legion. Up to 5,000 people attended the protests throughout eastern Ghouta. Less than a week later, the Glory Brigades seceded from the Rahman Legion, making it the 9th rebel group to leave the legion since the start of the war. Previously several of these groups have seceded in order to join the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union
The Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union ( ar, الاتحاد الإسلامي لأجناد الشام, ''al-ittihad al-islami li-ajnad al-sham'', "Islamic Union of the Soldiers of the Levant") was an alliance of Sunni Islamist groups affiliated with t ...
and the now defunct Jaysh al-Ummah
The Jaysh al-Ummah ( ar, جيش الأمة; lit. Army of the Ummah) was a coalition of 20 small rebel groups active during the Syrian Civil War. The group operated in Damascus and Rif Dimashq Governorate. It was disbanded on 9 March 2015, afte ...
.
2017
In February 2017, the head of the Rahman Legion's political council, Mutasim Shamir, attended peace talks in Geneva
, neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier
, website = https://www.geneve.ch/
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...
.[
Between February and May 2017, the Legion was targeted by the government's Qaboun offensive. In March 2017, the Legion clashed with government forces in Jobar.
From April 2017, heavy clashes restarted between Jaysh al-Islam and the Rahman Legion, backed by ]Tahrir al-Sham
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (, transliteration: ', "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant" or "Levant Liberation Committee"), commonly referred to as Tahrir al-Sham, is a Sunni Islamist political and armed organisation involved in the ...
(HTS).[Wisam Franjie]
In Besieged Eastern Ghouta, Rebel Infighting Increases Civilian Suffering
, Syria Deeply, Aug. 1, 2017 More than 95 rebels from both sides were killed, among them a captain of the Rahman Legion. On 2 May, Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
Abu Muhammad al-Kurdi of the Rahman Legion defected to Jaysh al-Islam.
On 8 May 2017, the Glory Brigades rejoined the Rahman Legion after the latter surrounded the former's headquarters in Hamouriyah
Hamouriyah ( ar, حمورية), also spelled Hamoryah, Hamouria, Hammurah or Hammuriya, is a city in Syria. It is administratively a part of the Kafr Batna nahiyah, in the Markaz district of the Rif Dimashq Governorate. The town is located abou ...
for 2 days.
In June, government forces started an offensive against the Legion in Jobar, which lasted until mid-August. Government sources claimed 400 rebels were killed during the first month of the offensive.
In July 2017, increasing tensions were reported between the Legion and its former ally HTS in eastern Ghouta. On 6 August 2017, 120 Ahrar al-Sham fighters in Arbin defected to the Rahman Legion after internal disputes. Ahrar al-Sham accused the Rahman Legion of seizing their weapons, while the Rahman Legion accused Ahrar al-Sham of their attempt to implement their "failed" experience from northern Syria in eastern Ghouta. Tahrir al-Sham reportedly sided with Ahrar al-Sham against the Rahman Legion during the clashes.[ A ceasefire agreement between the Rahman Legion and Ahrar al-Sham was implemented on 9 August.
In August 2017 in Geneva, the Legion signed a deal with ]Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
to join the de-escalation area in eastern Ghouta, brokered by Russia, Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
and Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. However, in September 2017, there were reports of clashes between the Legion and government forces in Jobar.
The Legion was involved, alongside Ahrar al-Sham, in the Battle of Harasta, November 2017-January 2018.
2018
In February 2018, government forces launched a large-scale offensive to recapture eastern Ghouta from rebel groups, including the Rahman Legion. By March, the rebel pocket in eastern Ghouta was split into three, with the southern pocket of Hamouriyah
Hamouriyah ( ar, حمورية), also spelled Hamoryah, Hamouria, Hammurah or Hammuriya, is a city in Syria. It is administratively a part of the Kafr Batna nahiyah, in the Markaz district of the Rif Dimashq Governorate. The town is located abou ...
being controlled by the Legion. Al-Rahman fighters withdrew from Hamouriyah to Ein Tarma by 15 March. On 23 March, the Legion reached a surrender agreement with Russia, and began to evacuate its fighters and their families from Zamalka, Arbin, Ein Tarma, and Jobar the next day. A convoy of more than 5,400 rebel fighters and civilians departed the pocket on 25 March, reaching northwestern Syria the next day.
External support
Al-Rahman Legion is supported by Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...
. Qatari-backed Al-Rahman Legion has been fighting Saudi Arabian-backed Jaysh al-Islam.
Turkey supported the group, but in 2020 it suspended the support to them, because they refused to obey Turkey's order to send fighters into Libya. A few militants of the group went on to fight in Libya anyway, despite the rejection of their commanders.
The group is actively using American BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile. TOW replaced much smaller missiles like the SS.10 and ENTAC, offering roughly twice the effective range, a more powerful warhead, and a greatly ...
anti-tank missiles.[Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?]
. Deutsche Welle. 20 February 2018.
See also
* List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War
A number of states and armed groups have involved themselves in the ongoing Syrian Civil War as belligerents.
Syrian Arab Republic and allies
A number of sources have emphasized that as of at least late-2015/early-2016 the Syrian Arab Republic ...
References
External links
Al-Rahman Legion on Twitter
{{Syrian Civil War
Anti-government factions of the Syrian civil war
Military units and formations established in 2013
Free Syrian Army
Turkish supported militant groups of the Syrian civil war