Al-Fauj al-Awwal (Arabic: الفوج الأول, English: The 1st Regiment) is an armed rebel group formed in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War.
| Al-Fauj al-Awwal | |
|---|---|
| الفوج الأول | |
 Logo of Al-Fauj al-Awwal | |
| Military leader | Hassem Kenjo † |
| Dates of operation | 5 March 2015 - present |
| Split from | Levant Front |
| Country |  Syria |
| Motives | Overthrow of the Baathist regime of Bashar al-Assad |
| Active regions | Aleppo Governorate, Hama Governorate |
| Ideology | Sunni Islam, Syrian nationalism |
| Status | Active |
| Size | 1,500 militants (2016 estimate) |
| Battles and wars | |
History
editAl-Fauj al-Awwal was founded by former fighters of Liwa al-Tawhid on March 5, 2015, amid the Syrian Civil War. The group was initially part the Levant Front, with which they were split from in late 2015. The group is affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. Al-Fauj al-Awwal helped found the Ansar al-Sharia Joint Operations Room that became active in Aleppo on July 2, 2015. The group eventually ended up joining the Fatah Halab Joint Operations Room in early 2016. In April 2016, they were again transferred to the Hawar Kilis Operation Room.[1][2]
Al-Fauj al-Awwal is Islamist according to Jennifer Cafarella and Genevieve Casagrande, analysts for the Institute for the Study of War.[3] The group was led by Hassem Kenjo, who was killed in combat in Aleppo, in the Sheikh Saïd district, on November 17, 2016. The group had an estimated 1,500 men within it's ranks during 2016, although the current number is unknown. From the end of 2015, the group obtained several BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles delivered by the United States. It also obtained weapons that were delivered by Turkey around the same time.[4]
The group is active in the city of Aleppo and in the northern region of the Aleppo governorate, but it has also intervened occasionally in the Hama governorate. They participated in the Battle of Aleppo, the siege of Nubl and al-Zahraa and the Battle of al-Bab. The group took part in Operation Euphrates Shield from 2016, alongside the Turkish Land Forces.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stéphane Mantoux, Syrie: le régiment, le groupe rebelle syrien patronné par la Turquie, France Soir, 27 décembre 2016.
- ^ Les combattants islamistes et les rebelles lancent une offensive d'ampleur à Alep, France 24 avec Reuters, 3 juillet 2015.
- ^ Jennifer Cafarella et Genevieve Casagrande, Syrian Armed Opposition Forces in Aleppo, Institute for the Study of War, 13 février 2016.
- ^ a b Syrie: Ansar al-Charia, une nouvelle alliance rebelle à l’offensive à Alep, RFI, 3 juillet 2015.