{{Short description|Syrian rebel coalition}}{{More citations needed|date=January 2023}} {{infobox war faction | name = Free Idlib Army | native_name = جيش إدلب الحر | native_name_lang = ar | war = the [[Syrian Civil War]] | image = | image_size = 200px | caption = | active = 19 September 2016 – 29 January 2025 | ideology = [[Syrian nationalism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/05/03/analysis-the-free-idlib-armys-role-in-the-u-s-battle-against-al-qaida-in-syria|title=Analysis: The Free Idlib Army's Role in the U.S. Battle Against Al-Qaida in Syria|work=[[Syria Deeply]]|author=Abdul Rahman al-Masri|date=3 May 2017}}</ref> | leaders = '''Top commanders, since July 2017:'''<ref name=staff>{{Cite web|url=http://aletihadpress.com/2017/07/11/%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%89-%D8%B1%D8%A6/|title=Free Idlib Army is making adjustments at the level of the chief of staff|work=Al-Etihad Press|date=11 July 2017|access-date=29 May 2018|archive-date=29 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130550/http://aletihadpress.com/2017/07/11/%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%89-%D8%B1%D8%A6/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Col. [[Afif Suleiman]] ({{small|overall commander, since 2019}})<ref name=arrested>{{Cite web|url=http://rumaf.net/?p=16479|title=HTS arrested Colonel Afif Suleiman, commander of the so-called "Free Army of Idlib"|work=RûMaf|date=1 August 2019}}</ref> *Lt. Col. Suhaib Leoush ({{small|overall commander, until 2019}}) *Capt. Naji Mustafa ({{small|deputy commander}}) *Capt. Dumar Qanatri ({{small|chief of staff}}) '''Other commanders:''' *Lt. Col. Nasha'at Haj Ahmad ({{small|Mountain Hawks Brigade}})<ref name="free_idleb_army">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/free_idleb_army|title=جيش إدلب الحر (@free_idleb_army) - Twitter|publisher=}}</ref> *Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud ({{small|13th Division}})<ref name=learn>{{cite web|url=http://en.eldorar.com/node/3273|title=Free Idlib Army is Close to Form … Learn its main factions|work=El-Dorar|date=20 September 2016|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-date=25 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025031725/http://en.eldorar.com/node/3273|url-status=dead}}</ref> '''Former:''' *Capt. Hassan Haj Ali ({{small|Mountain Hawks Brigade and overall commander, until July 2017}})<ref name=masdar>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/new-rebel-group-formed-idlib/|title=New rebel group formed in Idlib|work=Al-Masdar News|date=20 September 2016|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923100636/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/new-rebel-group-formed-idlib/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source|not reliable for rebel facts|date=April 2021}} *Col. Ali al-Samahi{{KIA}} ({{small|chief of staff, assassinated in April 2017}})<ref name=assassination>{{Cite web|url=https://arabi21.com/story/996229/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%BA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1|title=Activists: Sham Liberation Army assassinated a senior commander of Idlib Free (Photos)|work=Arabi 21|date=5 April 2017}}</ref> *1st Lt. Mohamed Khalid Bayoush ({{small|Northern Division and alternate deputy commander, until July 2017}})<ref name=najat>{{cite web|url=http://aletihadpress.com/2016/11/23/%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A/|title=Najat leader of the free Idlib Jaish Albyosh an assassination attempt Brive Idlib|work=Al-Etihad Press|date=23 November 2016|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116171353/http://aletihadpress.com/2016/11/23/%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Lt. Col. [[Fares Bayoush]] ({{small|former Northern Division and deputy commander, resigned in January 2017}})<ref name=resign>{{cite web|url=http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/19917991/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86--%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1--%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A9--%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-|title=The resignation of a leader of the «army Idlib free» to face the «black banners of cross-border»|work=Al-Hayat|date=2 February 2017|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204124837/http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/19917991/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86--%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1--%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A9--%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=now>{{cite web|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567375-syria-rebels-form-free-idlib-army|title=Syria rebels form Free Idlib Army|work=Now News|date=23 September 2016|access-date=23 September 2016|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105183824/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567375-syria-rebels-form-free-idlib-army|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Amin Haj Ali{{KIA}} ({{small|field commander, killed in March 2019}})<ref name="commander">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/ayhg4o/free_idlib_armys_field_commander_amin_haj_ali_has/|title = Free Idlib Army's Field commander Amin Haj Ali has been killed tonight in IED blast in Kafransa (Jebal Zawiyah, S. Idlib).|date = 7 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="amin">{{Cite web|url=https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2019/7-march-the-commander-of-the-free-idlib-army-amin-haj-ali|title=The commander of the Free Idlib army, Amin Haj Ali, was killed by an explosive device in his car at a petrol station in the town of Kanafra in Jabal al Zawiya south of Idlib Kansafra, Idlib Governorate}}</ref>{{better source|reddit|date=April 2021}} | clans = *[[Mountain Hawks Brigade]] *[[Northern Division (Syrian rebel group)|Northern Division]] *[[13th Division (Syrian rebel group)|13th Division]] (2016-2017) *[[Jabhat Thuwar Saraqib|Saraqib Revolutionaries Front]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/7qukiz/jabhat_thuwar_saraqib_today_joined_free_idlib_army/?st=JCI39TD2&sh=22e4b805|title = Jabhat Thuwar Saraqib today joined Free Idlib Army|date = 16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTq6hStW4AIELBI?format=jpg&name=900x900|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111051504/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTq6hStW4AIELBI?format=jpg&name=900x900|archivedate=2019-11-11|date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> | headquarters = | area = Northwestern [[Syria]] *[[Idlib Governorate]] *[[Aleppo Governorate]] *[[Hama Governorate]] *[[Latakia Governorate]] | size = *6,000 (2016)<ref name=rfs>{{cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/en/2016/09/20/fsa-idlib-new-launch-towards-unified-military-action/#.V-IiK_B97IU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923180230/https://rfsmediaoffice.com/en/2016/09/20/fsa-idlib-new-launch-towards-unified-military-action/#.V-IiK_B97IU|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=FSA in Idlib… A new launch towards unified military action|work=RFS Media Office|date=20 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=raid>{{cite web|url=http://www.feda-news.com/syria-news/56511|title=Russian raid kills 22 fighters from the Free Army in Hama|work=Feda News|date=24 September 2016|access-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924110821/http://www.feda-news.com/syria-news/56511|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 6,500 (2017)<ref name=resign /> | partof = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} [[Free Syrian Army]]<br>{{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} [[Syrian National Army]] *[[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> {{flagicon image|}} [[Fatah Halab]] (2016) | predecessor = | successor = 60th Infantry Division<ref name=merge>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2023 |title=National Front for Liberation (الجبهة الوطنية للتحرير) on X |url=https://twitter.com/alwataniaTahrer/status/1723266078728433794}}</ref> | allies = *{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sham Legion.svg}} [[Sham Legion]] *{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]] *{{flagicon image|Flag of the 101st Division (Syrian rebel group).svg}} [[21st Combined Force (Syrian rebel group)|21st Combined Force]] *{{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg}} [[Tahrir al-Sham]] (occasionally) *{{flag|Qatar}} *{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}} (2017) *{{flag|Turkey}} *{{flag|United States}} (until July 2017) | opponents = *{{flagdeco|Syria|1980}} [[Syrian Arab Armed Forces]] *{{flag|Islamic State}} *{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] * {{flagicon image|Flag of Jund al-Aqsa.svg}} [[Jund al-Aqsa]]<br>({{small|since 2017}}) * {{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg}} [[Tahrir al-Sham]] (occasionally) | battles = [[Syrian Civil War]] *[[Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War]] *[[Battle of Aleppo (2012–16)]] **[[Aleppo offensive (September-October 2016)]] *[[Turkish military intervention in the Syrian Civil War]] *[[Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present)]] *[[2016 Hama offensive]] *[[Idlib Governorate clashes (2017)]] *[[Hama offensive (March–April 2017)]] *[[Hama offensive (September 2017)]] *[[Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)]] | url = }}
The '''Free Idlib Army''' ({{Langx|ar|جيش إدلب الحر}} ''Jaysh ʾIdlib al-Ḥarr'') was a [[Syrian rebel]] coalition consisting of 3 armed groups from northwestern [[Syria]] affiliated with the [[Free Syrian Army]]: the [[13th Division (Syrian rebel group)|13th Division]], the [[Northern Division (Syrian rebel group)|Northern Division]], and the [[Mountain Hawks Brigade]]<ref>{{Cite web |first=Zaman |last=Alwsl |date=August 23, 2016 |title=Syria rebels form Free Idlib Army |url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/article/18460 |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Zaman Alwsl {{!}} جريدة زمان الوصل}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Logo of the Free Idlib Army.svg|thumb|left|150px|Initial logo of the Free Idlib Army.]] On 25 August 2016, the commander of the Northern Division, [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Fares Bayoush announced that talks are made in [[Idlib]] on the unification of the three FSA-affiliated rebel groups in northwestern Syria. He stated that eventually the merger will be complete and the three component groups will dissolve into the main faction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/en/2016/08/25/lieutenant-colonel-faris-bayoush-rfs-one-force-assad/#.V-TQaPB97IU|title=Lieutenant-colonel Faris Bayoush to RFS: We Have to Be One Force Against Assad|work=RFS Media Office|date=25 August 2016|access-date=23 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923181830/https://rfsmediaoffice.com/en/2016/08/25/lieutenant-colonel-faris-bayoush-rfs-one-force-assad/#.V-TQaPB97IU|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At its establishment on 19 September 2016, the coalition aims to prioritise fighting the [[Syrian government]] and establish relations and coordinate with the [[Salafist]] factions of the [[Army of Conquest]], including [[Ahrar al-Sham]] and [[Jabhat Fateh al-Sham]], [[al-Qaeda]]'s renamed [[al-Nusra Front]].<ref name=learn/> However an opposition source stated that the Free Idlib Army will not closely cooperate with Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.<ref name=now/> Just a day before, the Mountain Hawks Brigade withdrew from the [[Turkish military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|front against ISIL near Jarabulus and Azaz]] in order to head to southern [[Aleppo]] and [[Idlib]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://all4syria.info/Archive/345766|title=Brigade Mountain Hawks stopped work in northern Syria until further notice|work=All4Syria|date=18 September 2016}}</ref> The commander aims for an eventual full merger between the 3 groups after forming a new command structure.<ref name=rfs/>
On 23 September [[Russian military intervention in Syria|Russian warplanes]] bombed a cave in [[Taybat al-Imam]], killing 22 fighters from the Free Idlib Army.<ref name=raid/>
In early October a number of [[Mountain Hawks Brigade]] fighters defected to join [[Jabhat Fateh al-Sham]] due to several disagreements, mainly due to the established of the Free Idlib Army.<ref>[https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-rebels-defect-al-qaeda-branch-syria/ US-backed rebels defect to al-Qaeda branch in Syria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824014213/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-rebels-defect-al-qaeda-branch-syria/ |date=2017-08-24 }} Al Masdar News, 5 October 2016</ref>{{better source|not reliable for rebel facts|date=April 2021}}
In November, the deputy commanding general of the Free Idlib Army, [[first lieutenant]] Mohammed Khaled Bayoush, came under fire from [[machine gun]]s fired by unknown assailants while in his car near the town of [[Kafr Nabl]]. The commander escaped without injury.<ref name=najat/>
On 25 December 2016, two FIA commanders were shot and killed in Maarat. Opposition activists accused [[Jund al-Aqsa]] of conducting the [[assassination]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/two-free-syrian-army-leaders-assassinated-idlib/|title=Two Free Syrian Army leaders assassinated in Idlib|work=Al-Masdar News|date=25 December 2016|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226163016/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/two-free-syrian-army-leaders-assassinated-idlib/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source|not reliable for rebel facts|date=April 2021}} The next day, the al-Nusra Front raided houses throughout Idlib and captured 16 FIA fighters from the Mountain Hawks Brigade. The rebels were captured on charges of participating in the [[Turkish military intervention in Syria (August 2016 – March 2017)|Turkish military intervention in Syria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qasioun.net/en/news/show/45360|title=Exclusive: Commander In Soqor Al-Jabal: Fatih Al-Sham Detained Our Soldiers For Joining Euphrates Shield|work=Qasioun|date=26 December 2016|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227195636/http://qasioun.net/en/news/show/45360|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 23 January 2017, the 13th Division of the FIA [[Idlib Governorate clashes (January 2017)|repelled]] an al-Nusra advance toward [[Maarat al-Nu'man]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=823750601196572673|user=Dalatrm|title=Confirmed 13th Div of free idlib army checks JFS vanguard advance vs MaaratNuman, some prisoners taken. Night Pro-FSA protests were raging|author=|date=23 January 2017}}</ref>
On 25 January 2017, the groups of fighters which left the Mountain Hawks Brigade in September 2016 for [[Jabhat Fateh al-Sham]], returned, along with their leader, Lt. Col. Nasha'at Haj Ahmad.<ref name="free_idleb_army"/>
On 31 January 2017, Lt. Col. Fares Bayoush resigned from his positions in the [[Northern Division (Syrian rebel group)|Northern Division]] and the Free Idlib Army, citing "[[Black Standard]]s" in Idlib.<ref name=resign/>
On 5 April 2017, a vehicle carrying Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud of the 13th Division and [[Colonel]] Ali al-Samahi, [[chief of staff]] of the Free Idlib Army, came under fire from [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] fighters at a checkpoint near Khan al-Subul, which was under complete control of HTS. Al-Samahi and another fighter was killed in the shootout while al-Saud was wounded and was transferred to Turkey for treatment.<ref name=assassination/>
As a result of internal disputes between the 13th Division and the other factions in the Free Idlib Army, some members of the former reportedly released a statement on 11 April which claimed that the 13th Division will no longer be part of the Free Idlib Army and it will instead join the "central operations room" led by Col. [[Fadlallah al-Haji]] of the [[Sham Legion]]. This was denied by Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud, the overall commander of the 13th Division, who called the statement a "false report". Al-Saud called on all the member groups of the FIA to integrate under one organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/18008/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9_13_%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A_%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A_%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B2_%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%87%D8%A7_%D8%B9%D9%86_%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4_%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1|title="Band 13" denies my News Anagha about "Idlib Free Army"|work=Baladi News Network|date=11 April 2017|access-date=12 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413003630/http://baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/18008/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9_13_%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A_%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A_%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B2_%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%87%D8%A7_%D8%B9%D9%86_%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4_%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 11 July 2017, the Free Idlib Army appointed new commanders: Lt. Col. Suhaib Leoush (overall commander, replaced Capt. Hassan Haj Ali), Capt. Naji Mustafa (deputy commander, replaced 1st Lt. Muhammad Bayoush), and Capt. Dumar Qanatri (chief of staff, replaced Col. Ali Samahi, who was killed in April).<ref name=staff/>
In May 2018, along with 10 other rebel groups in northwestern Syria, the Free Idlib Army formed the [[National Front for Liberation]], which was officially announced on 28 May. Lt. Col. Suhaib Leoush was appointed as the formation's deputy commander.<ref name=call/>
On 7 March 2019, Amin Haj Ali, a field commander of the free Idlib Army, was killed by an IED in southern Idlib.<ref name="amin"/>
The unit subsequently fought alongside other rebel factions against the government's [[Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)|northwestern Syria offensive from April 2019]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=وعالم |first1=المدن عرب |url=https://www.almodon.com/arabworld/2019/5/17/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%BA%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B4 |title=ريف حماة: مليشيات النظام مشغولة بالتعفيش! |trans-title=Hama countryside: the regime's militias are busy with Altafish! |work=Almodon |language=Arabic |date=17 May 2019 |accessdate=11 August 2018}}</ref> On 31 July 2019, Col. [[Afif Suleiman]], commander of the Free Idlib Army and member of the National Front for Liberation's command council, was arrested by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's security force at a checkpoint near [[Darat Izza]] as he was driving from [[Afrin District]] to the northern Idlib Governorate. Suleiman was detained in HTS's Oqab Prison in [[Jabal Zawiya]],<ref name=arrested/> and released two days later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jesrpress.com/2019/08/02/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D9%8A/|title=Urgent: HTS releases the leader of the Free Army of Idlib. Colonel Afif Suleiman, commander of the Free Army of Idlib, was released two days after his arrest at one of its checkpoints.|work=Jesr Press|date=2 August 2019|access-date=27 October 2019|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127145644/https://www.jesrpress.com/2019/08/02/%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%ac%d9%84-%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%aa%d8%b7%d9%84%d9%82-%d8%b3%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ad-%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%af-%d8%ac%d9%8a/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 11 November 2023, the [[National Front for Liberation]] announced that the Free Idlib Army and [[23rd Division (Syrian rebel group)|23rd Division]] were merged as 60th Infantry Division.<ref name=merge />
At the [[Syrian Revolution Victory Conference]], which was held on 29 January 2025, most factions of the armed opposition, including the Syrian National Army and its components, announced their dissolution and were incorporated into the newly formed [[Ministry of Defense (Syria)|Ministry of Defense]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Syrian Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa Delivers 'Victory Speech,' Outlines Syria's Future Roadmap, Announces Dissolution Of Ba'ath Party, Armed Factions Into New 'Syrian Army'; Military Operations Command Declares Al-Sharaa President Of Syria During Transitional Phase |url=https://www.memri.org/jttm/syrian-leader-ahmed-al-sharaa-delivers-victory-speech-outlines-syrias-future-roadmap-announces |access-date=29 January 2025 |publisher=MEMRI}}</ref>
==Equipment== The Free Idlib Army is known for possessing several new [[BM-21 Grad]] [[multiple rocket launcher]]s which they used to bombard [[Syrian Army]] positions in southern [[Aleppo]] during the [[2016 Aleppo summer campaign]]. In September 2016, one of the group's commanders, [[Fares Bayoush]], confirmed that the rocket systems were newly supplied from foreign sponsors, and would be used in battlefronts in Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-rockets-idUSKCN11Y175|title=Syrian rebels get new rockets from foreign states: commander|work=Reuters|date=28 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/%22%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9%22-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%91%D8%AF-%D8%AB%D8%B1%D8%AB%D8%B1%D8%A9|title="New weapons" for the Syrian opposition factions... mere gossip|work=[[The New Arab]]|author=Adnan Ali|quote=In the context, the colonel of the "Free Idlib Army", Fares al-Bayoush, stated that his forces had received "excellent quantities" of "Grad" missiles from supportive foreign countries, with a range of between 22 and 40 kilometers, and they will be used on the battle fronts in Hama, Aleppo and the coastal region, he said.|date=18 October 2016}}</ref>
==See also== *[[5th Corps (Syrian rebel group)]] *[[101st Infantry Division (Syrian rebel group)]] *[[List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
[[Category:Free Syrian Army]] [[Category:Anti-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war]] [[Category:Anti–Islamic State factions in Syria]] [[Category:Operations rooms of the Syrian civil war]]