| Islamic Coalition | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Syrian civil war | |
| Active | September 2013 - January 2014[1][2] |
| Ideology | Sunni Islamism[3] |
| Area of operations | Syria |
| Opponents |
Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force |
| Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
The Islamic Coalition was founded in September 2013 in Syria in the context of the Syrian Civil War. The Coalition was founded in opposition to the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNC), and initially included 13 Islamist groups, including three "previously considered part of the [SNC]'s military wing, the Free Syrian Army."[1] Members included the Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham as well as the Tawheed Brigade and Islam Brigade;[1] the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was not a member, but its joining was not ruled out. [4] In its founding statement, titled "Communique No. 1,"[5] The group rejected the "interim prime minister" Ahmad Tu'mah elected by the SNC 10 days earlier, and called for "'an Islamic framework…based on Shari'ah' as the sole source of legislation."[3] The group stressed that it remained supportive of General Salim Idris' Supreme Military Council - it was abandoning only the political coalition, saying it "does not represent us."[6] A spokesman for the Tawheed Brigade has stated that there is no common organization between the groups.[7] Al Nusra Front has denied that there is a formal coalition.[8] The founding of the Coalition took place in the context of attempts to launch the Geneva II Middle East peace conference.
History[]
The coalition quickly fell apart.[9] In November 2013, Islamic Coalition signatories Ahrar ash-Sham, Liwa Tawheed, Suqour al-Sham, Liwa al-Islam and Liwa al-Haq went on to join together in the Islamic Front coalition.[10] In January 2014 signatories Nour al-Din al-Zinki Brigades, Division 19, Fastakam Kama Umirt Gathering, Liwa al-Ansar and Harakat al-Nour united in the Army of Mujahedeen.[2]
Members[]
Reuters listed the 13 groups as[11]
- Al-Nusra Front
- Ahrar ash-Sham
- Tawheed Brigade
- Suqour al-Sham Brigade
- Islam Brigade (Liwa al-Islam)
- Liwa al-Haq
- Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya
- Nour al-Din al-Zinki Battalion
- Furqan Brigade (Al Quneitra)
- Liwa al-Ansar
- 19th Division
- Tajamu Fastakam
- Harakat al-Nour
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Syrian rebel groups reject SNC authority, call for Islamic leadership". 25 September 2013. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/syrian-rebel-groups-reject-snc-authority-call-for-islamic-leadership/1174094/. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Mujahedeen Army of Aleppo". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 8 April 2014. http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=55275. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Syrian Rebel Units Reject Pro-Western Opposition Political Leaders". http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303796404579096782311389904. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Syrian rebel groups form alliance, slam Western-backed opposition". 25 September 2013. http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syrian-rebels-alliance-20130925,0,6612349.story. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Main Syrian opposition group splits". 25 September 2013. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/25/syrian-opposition-splits/2871435/. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Largest Syrian rebel groups form Islamic alliance, in possible blow to U.S. influence". 25 September 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/largest-syrian-rebel-groups-embrace-islamic-alliance-in-possible-blow-to-us-influence/2013/09/25/f669629e-25f8-11e3-9372-92606241ae9c_story.html. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Islamist Groups Declare Opposition to National Coalition and US Strategy [updated"]. 25 September 2013. http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/major-rebel-factions-drop-exiles-go-full-islamist/. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Syria – a new Islamic Union or an informal alliance ?". 28 September 2013. http://pietervanostaeyen.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/syria-a-new-islamic-union-or-an-informal-alliance/. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ↑ "A Power Move by Syria's Rebel Forces". http://iswsyria.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-power-move-by-syrias-rebel-forces.html?view=snapshot.
- ↑ Atassi, Basma (22 November 2013). "Major Syrian rebel groups join forces". Al Jazeera English. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/11/major-syrian-rebel-groups-join-forces-20131122141129975421.html. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ↑ "Factbox: Syrian rebels against opposition coalition". 25 September 2013. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/25/us-syria-crisis-opposition-factbox-idUSBRE98O0Q720130925. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
The original article can be found at Islamic Coalition (Syria) and the edit history here.