The 1st Coastal Division, formerly known as the Brigade of the Chargers (Arabic: لواء العاديات), is a Syrian rebel group that is affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and has been vetted by the Friends of Syria Group. It received TOW missiles and operates in the Idlib and northern Latakia governorates. The group received training and funding from Qatar. It is a former member of the Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades.[1]
| 1st Coastal Division | |
|---|---|
| الفرقة الأولى الساحلية | |
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | 2014 – present |
| Active regions | Idlib Governorate Latakia Governorate[1] |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army[1]
|
| Allies |  Ahrar al-Sham Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria Al-Nusra Front |
| Opponents |  Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
History
editThe group participated in the 2014 Latakia offensive[1] and the 2015 Jisr al-Shughur offensive with a wide array of Syrian opposition forces.[4] As part of the Latakia offensive, the group briefly captured the Mediterranean town of Kasab,[5] acquiring their name.
1st Coastal Division is famous for including Free Syrian Army war hero Abo Hamza who became notable on social media for his many skillful BGM-71 TOW missile shots.[6]
In October 2015 the 1st Coastal Division's chief of staff, Captain Basil Zamo, was killed in a Russian airstrike on Jabal al-Akrad, Latakia.[2]
In April 2016, the group together with Ahrar al-Sham, Al-Nusra Front, and the Turkistan Islamic Party attacked Syrian government positions in northeastern Latakia Governorate, capturing the villages of Nakshaba, al-Bayyada and 50% of Mount Qamou'.[7][better source needed]
On 30 June 2017, military commanders of the 21st Combined Force, the 23rd Division, the Central Division, and the 1st Coastal Division signed the Geneva Call's "Deed of Agreement" pledging to protect children in the war, prohibit sexual violence, and prevent sexism.[8]
In May 2018, along with 10 other rebel groups in northwestern Syria, the 1st Coastal Division formed the National Front for Liberation, which was officially announced on 28 May.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Third Russian air strike on Syrian rebel group kills leader". Reuters. 20 October 2015.
- ^ a b "11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"". Syria Call. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Syrian Rebellion Obs". Twitter. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "In Assad's coastal heartland, Syria's war creeps closer". Reuters. 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "In Syria, the Stakes Are High for a Rebel Offensive". Stratfor. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Fahd, Majd (2016-04-10). "Syrian Army retreats from hilltop in Latakia as Islamist rebels push back - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Syria: 4 brigades of the Free Syrian Army commit to prohibit sexual violence and the use of child soldiers". ReliefWeb. 3 July 2017.