Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
Bot: Removing c:File:Flag of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.svg (en). Deleted by Pi.1415926535 (per Commons:Commons:Deletion requests/Files in Category:Hayat Tahrir al-Sham). |
||
| (30 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{infobox war faction
|name=
|native_name={{lang-ar|الفرقة
|native_name_lang=Ar
|war=the [[Syrian Civil War]]
|image= Afrine 2018 23e division ASL (1).jpg
|caption= Fighters of the 23rd Division, led by Col. Abu Mustafa, during the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin]] in February 2018. The group's flag can be seen in the background.
|active=19 September
July 2016 – 8 August 2020 (23rd Division Aleppo branch only)
|ideology=
|leaders= *[[Colonel]] Suleyman Shalal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orient-news.net/ar/news_show/5383|title=Formation (band 16) in Aleppo: Colonel "waterfall" vows liberation of Aleppo|work=Orient News|date=19 September 2013}}</ref>▼
|leaders= *[[Colonel]] Hassan Rajoub (Abu Omar, since July 2016)<ref name=appoint/>▼
*Khaled Saraj ("Khaled Hayani"){{KIA}} (2013-15)<ref name=rfs>{{cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Badr-Marytrs%E2%80%99-Brigade-Liwar-Shouhada-Badr-Abdul-Khaled-Hayani.pdf|title=Exclusive interview: FREE SYRIAN ARMY COMMANDER Abdulkhalek Hayani|work=RFS Media Office|date=October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/9909.html|title=▼
*Col. Abu Mustafa<ref name=afrin>{{cite web|url=http://www.nedaa-sy.com/en/news/3839|title=We raised Combat readiness south-west of Afrin, Commander of 23rd Division military operations says|work=Syria Call|date=22 January 2018|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126113934/http://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/3839|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Abu al-Joud al-Homsi<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/26706/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1_%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1_%D9%84%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85_%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84_%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A9_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81_%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8|title="BAND 23" CAPTURES 10 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND KILLS THREE SUBURBS OF ALEPPO|work=Baladi News Network|date=13 January 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*Abdul Khaliq Lahyani (resigned 2016)<ref name=appoint>{{cite web|url=http://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/94026|title="Band 16" infantry appoints new commander in Aleppo|work=Enab Baladi|date=25 July 2016}}</ref>▼
'''Former:'''
▲*Colonel Hassan Rajoub (Abu Omar)<ref name=appoint/>
▲
▲*Khaled Saraj ("Khaled Hayani"){{KIA}} (
▲*Abdul Khaliq Lahyani (resigned in July 2016)<ref name=appoint>{{cite web|url=http://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/94026|title="Band 16" infantry appoints new commander in Aleppo|work=Enab Baladi|date=25 July 2016}}</ref>
|clans= *Badr Martyrs' Brigade<ref name=rfs/>
*Descendents of Omar Battalions<ref name=shahba>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shahbapress.com/news/605/%D9%88%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B3--%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-16-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8.html|title=Press agency Shahba: the formation of the band 16 in the northern countryside in Aleppo|work=Shahba Press Agency|date=19 September 2013|access-date=14 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010092813/https://www.shahbapress.com/news/605/%D9%88%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B3--%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-16-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8.html|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Lions of the Revolution Brigade
*Mustafa Martyrs Brigade
*Hawks of Islam Battalions
'''Former:'''
*[[Yusuf al-'Azma]] Brigade
*[[Saladin Ayubi Brigade]]
*[[Liwa Ahrar Souriya|Free Syria Brigade]]
**[[Arab Spring]] Brigade
*[[
|headquarters=Khalidiya District, [[Aleppo]]
[[Qah]], [[Idlib Governorate]] (2016–18)<ref name=hts/><br>
|area=[[Aleppo Governorate]], [[Syria]]▼
[[Azaz]] and [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], northern [[Aleppo Governorate]] (2018–20)<ref name=disbands/>
|strength=+1,600 (own claim in 2014)<ref name=rfs/>▼
▲|area=[[Aleppo Governorate]] and northern [[Idlib Governorate]], [[Syria]]
|partof=*{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} [[Free Syrian Army]]▼
*{{flagicon image|Fatah Halab operations room.jpg}} [[Fatah Halab]]▼
*[[National Front for Liberation]]<ref name=call>{{Cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/6391|title=11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"|work=Syria Call|date=28 May 2018|access-date=29 May 2018|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118162023/https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/6391|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|successor=
|allies=*{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]]
*{{flagicon image|Alternate flag of the Mountain Hawks Brigade.png}} [[Mountain Hawks Brigade]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Knights of Justice Brigade.svg}} [[Knights of Justice Brigade]]
* [[Levant Front]] (until August 2020)
* [[Fastaqim Union]]
* [[Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement]]
* {{flag|Turkey}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Al-Nusra_Front.svg}}{{flagicon image|}} [[Al-Nusra Front]]/[[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] (sometimes)<ref>[http://www.trytheweek.co.uk/syrias-moderate-opposition/ Syria’s moderate opposition?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005185722/http://www.trytheweek.co.uk/syrias-moderate-opposition/ |date=2016-10-05 }} [[The Week]]</ref>
|opponents=*{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Armed Forces]]
*{{Flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]
*{{Flag|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
*{{Flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]]
*{{flagicon image|}} [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] (sometimes)<ref name=hts>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shaam.org/news/syria-news/%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-23-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87.html|title="Liberation Sham" attacking the headquarters of the band 23 in the northern countryside of Idlib and controlled|work=Shaam News Network|date=28 February 2018}}</ref>
* [[Levant Front]] (August 2020)<ref name=disbands>{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/178646/|
title=Aleppo: "Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah" disbands "23rd Division", arresting the division's leader and taking over all headquarters|date=8 August 2020|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}</ref>
|battles=[[Syrian Civil War]]
*[[Battle of Aleppo (
**[[Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013)]]
**[[Aleppo offensive (July 2015)]]
**[[Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015)]]
**[[Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)]]
**[[
*[[Al-Nusra Front-SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict]]
*[[Turkish military operation in Afrin]]<ref name=afrin/>
}}
The '''23rd Division''' ({{lang-ar|الفرقة 23}}) or '''16th Infantry Division''' ({{lang-ar|الفرقة 16 مشاة}}) was a [[Syrian rebel]] group affiliated with the [[Free Syrian Army]]. Formed in September 2013, the group was active mainly in the city [[Aleppo]] and its surroundings. After rebel lines in Aleppo collapsed due to advances by the [[Syrian Army]] during the [[Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)|Battle of Aleppo]] in mid-2016, the 16th Division suffered heavy casualties and was dissolved. Remnants of the group then formed the '''23rd Division''' ({{lang-ar|الفرقة 23}}).<ref name=sponsor>{{cite web|url=http://www.almodon.com/arabworld/2016/8/18/%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4|title=Aleppo: Opposition to counter attacks by the regime .. And regain the sponsor of the "da'ash"|work=Al-Modon|date=18 August 2016}}</ref> The [[Syrian National Army]] faction of the group in northern Aleppo was disbanded after its leadership was attacked by the [[Levant Front]] in August 2020, with its other members were transferred to other groups under the SNA's 3rd Legion.<ref name=disbands/>
==History==
===16th Division===
The 16th Division was formed on 19 September 2013 as a merger of 10 rebel groups in the city of Aleppo.<ref name=shahba/> One of its subgroups, the ''Badr Martyrs' Brigade'', was infamous for [[robbery]], [[kidnapping]], [[extortion]], and most notably mass [[looting]] of factories in Aleppo districts and shipping truckloads of looted items to [[Turkey]].<ref name=monitor/> ▼
[[File:Hassan Rajoub.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Col. Hassan Rajoub, leader of 23rd Division, during the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin]] in March 2018.]]
▲The 16th Division was formed on 19 September 2013 as a merger of 10 rebel groups in the city of Aleppo.<ref name=shahba/>
In October 2013, the 16th Division's territory in northern Aleppo was overran by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]].<ref name=monitor>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/isis-hayani-badr-syria-aleppo.html|title=Islamic militia expels criminal gangs from Aleppo|work=Al-Monitor|date=11 November 2013}}</ref> During the ISIL offensive, ISIL fighters captured a 16th Division base and found a large quantity of [[gold]], [[cash]] in the form of [[United States dollar]]s, [[hashish]], and [[gas cylinder]]s used in the production of [[hell cannon]]s used by the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zamanalwsl.net/news/42655.html|title="State" published pictures of Massadaratha from the headquarters of the "martyrs of Badr" and the band 16 vows|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=1 November 2013}}</ref> In November 2013, in response to the "aggression" on their "brothers" of ISIL by the 16th Division, the [[al-Aqsa Mosque|al-Aqsa]] Brigade defected from the 16th Division.<ref name=aqsa/> ▼
▲In October 2013, the 16th Division's territory in northern Aleppo was overran by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]].<ref name=monitor>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/isis-hayani-badr-syria-aleppo.html|title=Islamic militia expels criminal gangs from Aleppo|work=Al-Monitor|date=11 November 2013}}</ref> During the ISIL offensive, ISIL fighters captured a 16th Division base and found a large quantity of [[gold]], [[cash]] in the form of [[United States dollar]]s, [[hashish]], and [[gas cylinder]]s used in the production of [[hell cannon]]s used by the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zamanalwsl.net/news/42655.html|title="State" published pictures of Massadaratha from the headquarters of the "martyrs of Badr" and the band 16 vows|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=1 November 2013}}</ref> In November 2013, in response to the "aggression" on their "brothers" of ISIL by the 16th Division, the [[
In January 2015, the [[al-Nusra Front]] captured 11 fighters from the 16th Division in Aleppo during the former's conflict with the [[Hazzm Movement]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN0L311Z20150130|title=Syria battle between al Qaeda and Western-backed group spreads|work=Reuters|date=30 January 2015}}</ref> In response, the 16th Division called for the unconditional release of its fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rudaw.net/NewsDetails.aspx?pageid=100997|title=16 Infantry Division in the Free Syrian Army calls Front victory for the release of 11 detainees|work=[[Rudaw Media Network|Rudaw]]|author=Shirin Dawood|date=31 January 2015}}</ref>▼
In February 2014, the Badr Martyrs' Brigade of the 16th Division clashed with the [[Foreign fighters in the Syrian Civil War and War in Iraq#Russia|foreign jihadist]]-led [[Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar|Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar]] over the [[Haritan]] and Mallah areas of Aleppo. An agreement was then signed on 16 February between Badr Martyrs' Brigade leader Abdul Khaliq Lahyani and Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar representative Abu Karim al-[[Ukrainians|Ukraini]] under the auspices of [[Ahrar al-Sham]] representative Abu Amir al-Shami, in which the two groups agreed to release their prisoners from the other party and to work together against the Syrian government, and the Badr Martyrs' Brigade agreed to not set up military headquarters in and around Mallah and to hand over houses to Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, while Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar agreed for its fighters to remain in these houses and its headquarters, not to stand masked at checkpoints which were to be manned by Ahrar al-Sham and the [[al-Nusra Front]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7/31079/|title=اتفاق بين جيش المهاجرين والأنصار ولواء شهداء بدر [Agreement between Jaysh al-Muhajireen and Ansar and the Badr Martyrs Brigade]|work=[[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]]|date=16 February 2014}}</ref> However, on the next day the commander of Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, Salahuddin [[Chechens|al-Shishani]], stated that al-Ukraini signed the agreement without consulting him and the rest of Jaysh al-Muhajireen and Ansar's leadership. Al-Shishani denounced the Badr Martyrs' Brigade [[Takfiri#Islamists, Salafists, jihadists, Takfiri, Khawarij|as apostates]] "supported by the [[Kafir|infidel]] [[Western world|West]]" through the [[Supreme Military Council (Syria)|Supreme Military Council]], and rejected the agreement as invalid.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://al-akhbar.com/Syria/27159|title="الألماني" حيّ يرزق و"الشيشاني" يُبطل هدنة "الأوكراني" ["The German" is alive, and the "Chechen" invalidates the "Ukrainian" armistice]|work=[[Al Akhbar (Lebanon)|Al-Akhbar]]|author=Sohaib Anjrini|date=18 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eldorar.com/node/41831|title="جيش المهاجرين والأنصار": الاتفاق الذي أُبرِم أمس مع لواء "شهداء بدر" اتفاق باطل [Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar: The agreement concluded yesterday with the "Badr Martyrs Brigade" is invalid]|work=El-Dorar al-Shamia|date=17 February 2014}}</ref>
▲In January 2015, the
On 7 December 2015, the 16th Division and the [[Knights of Justice Brigade]] conducted a joint bombing of the Syrian government defence laboratory in the central Khalidiya district of Aleppo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/55479|title=Factions in the army free to merge under the name of "Northern Division"|work=Enab Baladi|date=8 December 2015}}</ref>
Since November 2015, the group took part in the indiscriminate shelling of [[Sheikh Maqsoud]], which killed dozens of civilians and sparked a retaliation from the [[People's Protection Units]] (YPG), which killed several of its members in April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/ypg-36-gang-members-killed-in-sheikh-maqsoud|title=YPG: 36 gang members killed in Sheikh Maqsoud|work=ANF English|date=6 April 2016}}</ref>
During the [[northern Aleppo offensive (June-July 2016)]], the 16th Division suffered heavy
===23rd Division===
[[File:Afrine 2018 23e division ASL (3).jpg|250px|left|thumb|23rd Division fighters during the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin]] in February 2018.]]
Following the 16th Division's dissolution in July 2016, remnants of the group, led by Col. Hassan Rajoub, regrouped and formed the 23rd Division.<ref name=sponsor/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2017/04/29/factions-syrian-civil-war/|title=Factions Fighting in the Syrian Civil War|work=[[Bellingcat]]|author=Cody Roche|date=29 April 2017|quote=16th Infantry Division re-brand as Division 23|access-date=2018-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010093459/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2017/04/29/factions-syrian-civil-war/|archive-date=2017-10-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since January 2018, the group have participated in the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin]] against the YPG-led [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] in the [[Afrin Region]].<ref name=afrin/> On 28 February, [[Tahrir al-Sham]] besieged the headquarters of the 23rd Division in the village of [[Qah]] in the northern [[Idlib Governorate]]. After less than an hour of clashes, Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured the headquarter and seized equipment and weapons.<ref name=hts/>
In May 2018, along with 10 other rebel groups in northwestern Syria, the 23rd Division formed the [[National Front for Liberation]], which was officially announced on 28 May.<ref name=call/>
By 2020, most of the 23rd Division's fighters came from [[Tell Rifaat]] in the northern Aleppo Governorate. On 8 August 2020, the Levant Front, which accused the 23rd Division of "inciting hatred and strife, abetting infighting, and comprising corrupt officials", stormed the group's headquarters [[Azaz]] and [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], taking over the 23rd Division's bases and capturing its leaders and their escorts. The 3rd Legion of the Syrian National Army, led by the Levant Front, then made a court decision ordering the disbandment of the 23rd Division and the transfer of its members who were not arrested during the attack to other groups within the legion.<ref name=disbands/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/406466|title=The "Third Corps" dissolves a division within its formations and controls its headquarters|work=[[Enab Baladi]]|date=8 August 2020}}</ref>
▲During the [[northern Aleppo offensive (June-July 2016)]], the 16th Division suffered heavy casulties, including 29 killed, more than 54 wounded, and 7 missing, its headquarter overran, and its commanders, including the top leader, Abdul Khaliq Lahyani, resigned and was relieved of all duties. A new commander, former [[Syrian Air Force]] [[Colonel]] Hassan Rajoub, was appointed.<ref name=appoint/> Subsequently, the group went defunct.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/8753/|title=16th Division spokesman: causes for our withdrawal from Aleppo|work=Baladi News|date=30 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rebel-group-verge-total-collapse-aleppo/|title=Rebel group on the verge of total collapse in Aleppo|work=Al-Masdar News|date=25 July 2016}}</ref>
==War crimes==
Line 74 ⟶ 101:
{{Syrian Civil War}}
[[Category:Anti-government factions of the Syrian
[[Category:Anti-ISIL factions in Syria]]
[[Category:Free Syrian Army]]
| |||
