List of armed groups in the Syrian civil war

This is a list of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War.

Generic list

Overall conflict (2011–present)

Axis of Resistance	Syrian Interim Government and allies	Kurdish Self-Administration and allies	ISIS Government and allies
Syrian government forces Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force al-Jaysh al-Sha'bi Shabiha Allied armed groups: Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas Badr Organization Haidar al-Karar Brigade Promised Day Brigades Hezbollah PFLP–GC Syrian Social Nationalist Party Jaysh al-Muwahhideen Palestine Liberation Army Syrian Resistance Kata'ib Hezbollah Ba'ath Brigades Fatah al-Intifada Arab Democratic Party Houthis Popular Committees (2012) Mavros Krinos Arabian National Guard Liwa Dhu al-Fiqar Slavic Corps (2013) Faylak Wa’ad al-Sadiq al-Berri clan Tai'e tribe al-Jihesh tribe Iran Quds Force Basij Direct military support: Russia North Korea Iraq Indirect military support: Venezuela	Islamic Front Jaysh al-Islam Ahrar ash-Sham Al-Tawhid Brigade Suqour al-Sham Brigade Free Syrian Army Farouq Brigades Syrian Turkmen Brigades Liwaa al-Umma Ghuraba al-Sham al-Qaeda network al-Nusra Front Abdullah Azzam Brigade Jund al-Sham Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar Fatah al-Islam Ansar al-Islam Syria Revolutionaries Front Syrian Martyrs' Brigade Idlib Martyrs' Brigade Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union Authenticity and Development Front Ahfad al-Rasul Brigade Army of Mujahedeen Ghuraba al-Sham (jihadist) Free Iraqi Army Hizb ut-Tahrir Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Muslim Brotherhood of Syria Free Syrian Union Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade Abna Harakat al-Islam Jaysh al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah Deir-ez Zor Sharia Court Fajrul Islam Brigade of al-Qaka Revolutionary Council Tawafiq Fajr al-Islam Kurdish Katibat al-Taliban Liwa al-Tawhid wal-Jihad Liwa al-Asifa Ansar al-Khalifa Brigade Qalamoun Liberation Front Jaysh al-Sham Direct military support: Qatar Saudi Arabia Turkey United States Indirect military support: United Kingdom France	Kurdish Self-Administration People's Protection Units (YPG) Asayish Jabhat al-Akrad Shammar tribe Sharabiyya tribe Zubayd tribe Syriac Union Party Syriac Military Council (MFS) Sutoro Direct military support: Kurdistan Regional Government Kurdistan Democratic Party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Indirect military support: Kurdistan Workers' Party See: Kurdistan campaign	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Jund al-Aqsa See: Rebel-ISIS conflict

Front lines by 27th January, 2014.

  Controlled by ISIS

  Controlled by Syrian government

  Controlled by Kurdish forces

  Controlled by IF, FSA and al-Qaeda

Note:

• The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was formerly part of al-Qaeda, but was disavowed by al-Qaeda General Command, which stated: "It is not affiliated with al-Qaeda and has no relationship with it... al-Qaeda is not responsible for ISIS's actions."
• The United States alleges that Belarus has provided or attempted to provide direct military support to the Syrian government. Belarus denies this. There are also unconfirmed rumours that Algeria is providing military support to Syria.
• There is regular conflict between various rebel groups. However, members of the People's Protection Units have occasionally coordinated with the Free Syrian Army. In the Rebel-ISIS conflict, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Jund al-Aqsa have been fighting the Free Syrian Army, the Syria Revolutionaries Front, the Army of Mujahedeen, the Islamic Front and some units of the al-Nusra Front. Ghuraba al-Sham has clashed with the al-Nusra Front and the al-Tawhid Brigade of the Islamic Front. Members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria as well as the Kurdish Freedom Party have on occasion clashed with the People's Protection Units, the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party.
• The Kurdish National Council has joined the Syrian National Coalition—though without officially committing any military forces to the opposition—while simultaneously retaining its membership in the Kurdish Supreme Council alongside the PYD.
• The Islamic Front is a 2013 merger of two former rebel groups; the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front and the Syrian Islamic Front.
• The Syrian Electronic Army is a Syrian-government aligned group that is engaged in cyberwarfare.

Spillover in Lebanon (2011–present)

See: Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon, Lebanese–Syrian border clashes, Battle of Sidon (2013) and Iranian embassy bombings

Allies of the Syrian government	al-Qaeda network Syrian National Council and allies	Lebanon
Arab Democratic Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party Hezbollah	Al-Nusra Front Fatah al-Islam Jund al-Sham Free Syrian Army Abdullah Azzam Brigade Supported by: Future Movement	Lebanon Lebanese Armed Forces

Turkish clashes (2012–2013)

See: 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes, 2013 Reyhanlı bombings and June 2012 interception of Turkish aircraft

Syrian government	Turkey
Syria Syrian Armed Forces	Turkey File:Standard President of Turkey as Military Chief.png Turkish Armed Forces

Spillover in the Golan Heights and Israeli airstrikes (2012–present)

See: Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–present), January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike, May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes and July 2013 Latakia explosion

Syrian government and allies	Syrian National Council al-Qaeda network	Israel
Syria Syrian Armed Forces	Free Syrian Army Al-Nusra Front	Israel Israel Defense Forces

Spillover in Jordan (2012)

See: October 2012 Jordanian–Syrian border clash

Jordan	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Jordan Jordanian Armed Forces	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Spillover in Iraq (2013–14)

See: Akashat ambush and Operation al-Shabah

Syrian government and allies	al-Qaeda network
Syria Syrian Armed Forces Iraq Iraqi Armed Forces	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Al-Nusra Front Free Iraqi Army

Detailed list

Syrian government and allies

Name	Leader	Involved since	Strength	Description	Ideology
Syrian Armed Forces	Bashar al-Assad	March 2011	Approximately 178,000	Government's primary military force.	Ba'athism Secularism
National Defense Force	Bashar al-Assad	2013	60,000	Government counter-insurgency force.	Secularism
Syrian Resistance	Mihraç Ural	2011	2,000	Pro-government Marxist militia.	Syrian nationalism Marxism-Leninism
Ba'ath Brigades	Bashar al-Assad	2012		Pro-government counter-insurgency militia.	Ba'athism Secularism
Lebanese Militias:
Hezbollah	Hassan Nasrallah	2012	2,000	Militant group based in Lebanon, designated by the US as a terrorist group.	Ideology of Hezbollah
Iraqi Militias:
Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas	Abu Ajeeb	2012	10,000	Shia Syrian militant group formed due to desecration of shrines, heritage sites and place of worship by the rebels. It is Active around Damascus.	Shia Islamism
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq	Akram al-Kaabi	2012		An offshot of Iraqi Shia insurgent group. It is active around Aleppo.	Shia Islamism

Syrian National Coalition, al-Qaeda Network and allies

Name	Leader	Involved since	Strength	Description	Ideology
Free Syrian Army	Abdul-Ilah al-Bashir	July 2011	40,000	Main opposition group. Initially an umbrella term for defected Syrian soldiers, later became more organized.	Diverse, Mostly Islamism
Islamic Front	Amad Essa Al-Sheikh	November 2013	45,000	Merger of major rebel groups.	Islamism
Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union	Muhammad Abu al-Fatih	December 2013	15,000	Merger of Damascus area rebel groups	Islamism
Ahfad al-Rasul Brigade	Ziad Haj Obaid	July 2012	15,000	An independent brigade
Authenticity and Development Front	Khalid al-Hammad	November 2012	13,000		Islamism
Al-Nusra Front	Abu Mohammad al-Golani	January 2012	7,000-15,000	Designated by the US as a terrorist group. Pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda.	Sunni Islamism Salafist jihadism Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi	April 2013	5,000–22,500	Formerly Al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq, provided significant support for Al-Nusra Front, designated by the US as a terrorist group.	Sunni Islamism Salafist Jihadism Islamic terrorism anti-Shia
Army of Mujahedeen	Tawfeeq Shihab al-Din	January 2014	~5,000	Coalition of Islamist rebels formed to fight ISIL.	Islamism
Fatah al-Islam		April 2012	200	Lebanese al-Qaeda affiliate.	Sunni Islamism Salafist Jihadism

Kurdish Supreme Committee and allies

Name	Leader	Involved since	Strength	Description	Ideology
Democratic Union Party (PYD)	Salih Muslim Muhammad	2012	15,000–40,000 Note: Figure is for the People's Protection Units (YPG), which the PYD claims are not its exclusive militia, but rather are under the command of the higher Supreme Committee	Dominant Kurdish political party within the Supreme Committee Note: Officially part of a larger coalition called the People's Council of West Kurdistan (MGRK), which includes a number of civil unions and a few marginal leftist political parties. Also a member of the Koma Civakên Kurdistan, founded by the PKK.	Democratic socialism Kurdish nationalism Kurdish autonomy
Jabhat al-Akrad	Hajji Ahmed Kurdi	2012	7,000	Ex-Free Syrian Army brigade, close to YPG	Pro-Kurdish rights Anti-Assad government
Kurdish National Council (KNC)	Feysel Yusuf	2012	1,500 Note: Figure claimed by the leader of one minor party within the bloc, but no known participation in any conflict.	Opposition alliance of smaller Kurdish parties within the Supreme Committee Note: Largely dominated by the KDP-S, which also formed a separate caucus called the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union. Most members are politically tied to either the KDP or the PUK in Iraqi Kurdistan.	Kurdish nationalism Kurdish autonomy Liberal democracy

Coalitions

Note:

• Groups that are part of multiple coalitions or sub-groups are listed twice, although their subsequent sub-groups will not necessarily be repeated.
• This section aims to include all sub-groups involved in the Syrian Civil War. It is incomplete.

Rebel coalitions

Free Syrian Army 40,000 fighters

Farouq Brigades Syria Revolutionaries Front Idlib Military Council Syrian Martyrs' Brigade (Idlib province) Ahrar al-Zawia Brigades Ansar Brigades Coming Victory Brigades Seventh Division Ninth Division of Aleppo Farouq al-Shamal Battalions Ghab Wolves Brigade Idlib Martyrs’ Brigade Ahrar al-Shamal Brigade Riyad al-Salehin Battalions of Damascus Farouq Battalions of Hama Special Assignments Regiment of Damascus Syrian Turkmen Brigades Liwaa al-Umma Ghuraba al-Sham National Unity Brigades Abdel Rahman al-Shabandar Brigade Martyrs of the Syrian Revolution Brigade Joul Jamal Brigade Martyrs of Badama Brigade Martyrs of the Wastani Mountains Brigade Ahmad Maryoud Brigade Youssef Al-Admeh Brigade Tamer Al-Awam Brigade Ammar bin Yassir Battalion (Idlib province) Hamzah Al-Khateeb Battalion (Idlib city) Al-Furqan Battalion (Idlib province) Harmoush Battalion (Idlib province) Martyrs Ma'arat Nu'man Battalion (Idlib province) Shield of Islam Battalion (Idlib province) Salaheddine Al-Ayoubi Battalion (Jisr ash-Shugur) Qashoush Battalion (Hama city) Aboul Fidaa Battalion (Hama province) Saad Bin Moaz Battalion (Hama province) al-Nasser Brigades Ziaab al-Ghab Brigade Ahrar Souriya (Free Men of Syria) Brigade Moawiyah Bin Abi Sufian (Damascus city) Houriyeh Battalion (Aleppo city) Ababeel Battalion (Aleppo province) Lions of Shahba Battalion (Aleppo province) Saad Allah Al-Jabiri Battalion (Aleppo province) Omari Battalion (Daraa/Hauran) Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash Battalion (As-Suwayda) Qassam Battalion (Jableh) Suqur Battalion (Latakia) Samer Nunu Battalion (Baniyas) Mishaal Tammo Battalion (Qamishli) Odai Al-Tayi Battalion (Hasakah) Omar Ibn al-Khattab Battalion (Deir ez-Zor city) Moaz Al-Raqad Battalion (Deir ez-Zor province) Osoud al-Sunna Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province) Zi Qar Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province) al-Moata Brigade (Deir ez-Zor province) Allahu Akbar Battalion (Abu Kamal) Dawn of Freedom Battalion (Homs province) Bakkour Battalion (Homs province) Ramy Al-Sayeed Battalion (Homs province) Rijal al-Umma Brigade (Homs province) Tel Kalakh Martyrs' Battalion (Homs province) Shuhada al-Badiya Brigade (Homs province) al-Karama Brigade (Homs province) Ahmad Nayif al-Sukhni Battalion (Ar-Raqqah) Abu Obeidah bin al-Jarrah Battalion (Damascus province) Souqour Dimashq Battalion (Damascus city) Osama bin Laden Brigade (Damascus city) Jesus Christ Brigade Ansar Allah (God's Supporters) Battalion Saint George Battalion Ansar Brigade 19th Division Northern Storm Brigade Liwa Ahrar al-Jazira Tahrir Souriya Brigade Jeish Mohammad Brigade Former members Suqour al-Sham Brigade Defected to the Islamic Front

Islamic Front 45,000 fighters Details Ahrar ash-Sham: 10,000–20,000 Al-Tawhid Brigade: 11,000 Suqour al-Sham: 9,000 Jaysh al-Islam: at least 10,000

Syrian Islamic Liberation Front Suqour al-Sham Brigade Fajr al-Islam Souyouf al-Haqq Brigades Daoud Brigades al-Kansaa Brigades al-Mujahideen Brigades al-Mohagren wal Ansar Brigades Suqour al-Maraa Brigades Suqour al-Sharq Brigades Ansar Allah Brigades Aby Hajar Brigades al-Safwa Brigades Horas al-Aqeda Brigades Suqour al-Sona Brigades Swoar ash-Amal Brigades Atawhed Brigades Asideeq Brigades Suqour Halab Brigades Jaysh al-Islam Islam Brigades Islamic Army Brigades The Army of Muslims Brigades Sword of Truth Brigades Signs of Victory Brigades Conquest of Sham Brigades Ghouta Shield Brigades Siddiq Brigades Tawheed Al-Islam Brigades South of the Capital Brigades Badr Brigades Omar bin Abdulaziz Brigades Tawheed Soldiers Brigades Sword of Islam Brigades Omar bin Khattab Brigades Muath bin Jabal Brigades Zubayir bin Al-Awam Brigades Dhul Nurayin Brigades Ansar Brigades Hamzeh Brigades Air Defense Brigades Missile Defense Brigades Tank Brigades Military Direction Brigades Dahir Bebers Brigades Sword of Truth 2 Brigades Gamloon Warriors Brigades Slaves of the Merciful Brigades Murabiteen Brigades Bedouin Brigades Sunnah Supporters Brigades Ahul ul Bayt Brigades Martyrs of Atarib Brigades Coastal Defense Brigades Ain Jalout Brigades Tawheed Supporters Platoons Mujahideen Platoons Abu Dujana Falcons Platoons Sunnah Platoons Ansar Platoons Bara’a bin Azab Platoons Al-Tawhid Brigade Ahrar al-Shamal Brigades (Idlib, Hama) Andan Battalion Mare Battalion Huriyatan Battalion Azaz Battalion al-Bab Battalion Tell Rifaat Battalion Fursan al-Jabal Brigade Daret Izza Brigade Kurdish Salaheddine Battalion SILF non-signatories Farouq Brigades Ansar al-Islam Gathering Council Jaysh al-Islam Sahaba Brigades al-Habib al-Mustafa Brigades Ahfad al-Rasul Brigade Shuhada al-Jolan Battalion Suqour al-Jolan Battalion Suqour Jabal al-Zawiya Battalion Furqan Brigade (Damascus) Hamza Bin Abdul Muttalib Brigade al-Sham Shield Brigades Liwa al-Fath, Battalion of Conquest, (Aleppo) Deir ez-Zor Revolutionary Council Tajamo Ansar al-Islam Amr Ibn al-Aas Brigade Army of Mohammed Hawks Brigades Qamishli Kurds al-Naser Salaheddin Brigade Liwa Dawud Hawks Sham brigades Farouq Islamic Brigades Banner of Islam Unification Brigade Deir ez-Zor Revolutionary Council Furqan Brigade (Damascus) Al-Quneitra Furqan Brigade Hamza al-Ansar Brigade Ahrar al-Shamal Brigades (Idlib, Hama) Andan Battalion Mare Battalion Huriyatan Battalion Azaz Battalion al-Bab Battalion Tell Rifaat Battalion Ebad Idlib al-Rahman Brigades of Maarat al-Naaman Open Brigade (Aleppo) Brigade of Homs (Homs) Mohammed bin Abdullah Brigade (Homs) Return of the Martyr Ahmed Battalion (Homs) National Liberation Movement (Homs) Household Brigade (Hama) Brigades of God (Lattakia) Izz ibn Abd al-Salam Brigades (Lattakia) Council of Banias (Tartous) Tartous Military Council (Tartous) Amr Ibn al-Aas Brigades Fateh Brigades Kurdish Suqour Brigades Iman Brigades Istiklal Gathering Syrian Islamic Front Ahrar al-Sham Islamic Movement Ahrar al-Sham Battalions Islamic Vanguard Group Islamic Dawn Movement Fighting Faith Battalions Moussaab bin Omeir Battalion Hamza Bin Abdul Muttalib Brigade Suqour al-Islam Battalions Special Tasks Battalion Liwa al-Haqq (Homs) Ansar al-Sham (Latakia) al-Fajr Islamic Movement Jaysh al-Tawhid (Deir Ez-Zor) Haqq Battalions Gathering (Hama) al-Ahrar Battalions Jamaat al-Talia al-Islamiya al-Iman Fighting Brigades Musab Bin Umair Battalion Kurdish Islamic Front

Note:

• The sub-groups of Jaysh al-Islam are merged into the group.
• Not all groups in the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front and the Syrian Islamic Front have agreed (or declined) to be a part of the Islamic Front, despite the leaders of both coalitions having joined the Front as key figures. The Syrian Islamic Front tweeted that it had disbanded and its component groups would hereby operate under the Islamic Front. The Syrian Islamic Liberation Front announced its dissolution on the 26th of November 2013. The non-signatory former members of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front have been included here as members by default, as the former coalitions' leaders have joined the Front. The original seven signatories are:
  • Al-Tawhid Brigade (SILF)
  • Ahrar ash-Sham (SIF and SIF's leader)
  • Liwa al-Haqq (SIF)
  • Suqour al-Sham Brigade (SILF and SILF's leader)
  • Army of Islam (SILF)
  • Ansar al-Sham (SIF)
  • Kurdish Islamic Front

Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union 15,000 fighters
al-Habib al-Mustafa Brigades Sahaba Brigades Shabab al-Huda Brigades Amjad al-Islam Rally Capital's Shield Brigade

Authenticity and Development Front 13,000 fighters

Southern Front Battalion for the People of Damascus Saarim Battalion Muawiyah Battalion The Zamalka Martyrs Brigade Originality Battalion Imam Bukhari Battalion Northern Front Impacting People Brigade Criterion Brigades Free Izzat Circuit Brigade Right Jund Armour Brigade of the Nation Right Brigade Alababil Brigade Banner of Freedom Black Brigade of War Battalion of the Martyr Ismail Al-Abdullah Western Front First Brigade Brigade of the Martyr Hamza al-Khatib Brigade of the Martyr Riyad Abdeen Central Front I Corps People Brigades Miqdad ibn al-Aswad Battalion Short Brigade Ancestors Battalion Sincerity Brigade Eastern Front Promise of Victory Brigade Impact on People Brigade Black Tawhid Year Brigade Allahu Akhbar Brigades Stationed Brigades Hudhaifah bin al-Yaman Battalion Muawiyah Battalion Impact on People Battalion Hawks of the Year Brigade Ahl al-Athar Brigade Hamza Brigade

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 5,000–22,500 fighters
al-Qaeda in Iraq Former members Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar Withdrew due to preexisting oath to the Caucasus Emirate.

Hizbut Tahrir
Saad Bin Moaz Battalion (Hama province) al-Nasser Brigades Ziaab al-Ghab Brigade

Free Syrian Union

Division 77 (Northern Region) Third Division (Qalamoun) Lightning Victory Brigade (Rural Idlib, Hama) 90th Brigade (West Damascus) Dawn Brigade(Gota Bank) Saif al-Sham Brigade (Gota Bank) Umayyad Brigade (Damascus region) Badia Martyrs Brigade (Idlib) Peace in the Levant Brigade (Idlib) Soldiers Rahman Brigade (Idlib and Abu Aldhor) Flag Brigade (Abou Aldhor) The Banner of Jesus Christ (Damascus) Omar Mukhtar Brigade (Idlib countryside) Beloved Prophet Brigade Billah Brigade (Idlib) Abu Bakr Brigade (Aleppo) Hussein Harmoush Brigade (Lattakia) Sincere Promise Brigade (Lattakia) The Martyrs of Islam and the Al-Sham Brigade (Aleppo and Homs) Unity and Liberaton Front (including al-Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor brigades) Muawiyah Brigade (Rastan) Martyrs of Islam Brigade (Qalamoun) Hamzah Brigade (Barada Valley) Martyrs of Dignity Brigade (Barada Valley) Martyr Samir Aldhak Brigade (Rastan) Eagles Brigade بيارق Islam Brigade Saifullah Maslool Brigade Dawn of the Mujahideen Brigade Hittin Brigade Flag Brigade(Khanasser) Soldiers Rahman Brigade (Aleppo countryside) Martyr Mazen Brigade Martyrs Secretariat Brigade (Hama) Martyrs Dignity Brigade (Khan Shaikhoun) Victory in God Brigade(Khan Shaikhoun) 533 Commando Brigade (Hama Northern) 633 Infantry Brigade (Khan Shaikhoun) Caliph Brigade (Ma'arrat Nu'man) Hawks Mountain Brigade (Mount Hhacbo) Pottery Hill Battalion (Aleppo countryside) Tasks Battalion (Damascus Madaya) Punishment Brigade (Qalamun) Rebels Brigade (Khan Shaikhoun) 465 Martyrs Regiment (Khan Shaikhoun) Martyrs Brigade (Mount Hermon) The Banner of Free Rural Western Brigades Revolutionary Military Council (Damascus)

Army of Mujahedeen
Nur al-Din al-Zanki Islamic Brigades al-Noor Islamic Movement Fastaqim Kama Umirt: Aleppo City Battalion Liwaa Halab al-Shahbaa Liwaa al-Islam Division 19 of the Free Syrian Army: Liwaa al-Ansar Liwaa Amjad al-Islam Liwaa Ansar al-Khilafa al-Quds Brigades Khan al-Assal Free Brigades al-Shuyukh Brigade Liwaa al-Mujahireen

Government-aligned coalitions

Shabiha 10,000 fighters
al-Berri clan

See also

• Foreign rebel fighters in the Syrian Civil War
• Russia's role in the Syrian Civil War
• Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War
• Iranian support for Syria in the Syrian Civil War

External links

• Interactive: Mapping Syria's rebellion - Al-Jazeera
• Syria interactive: The rebels, their weapons and funds - Channel 4 News