{{Short description|Military unit}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{infobox war faction | name = Mu'tasim Division | native_name = {{lang|ar|فرقة المُعتصم}}<br/>''Firqat al-Mu'tasim'' | native_name_lang = Ar | image = 200px<br/>Logo of al-Mu'tasim Division <br/>200px<br/>Flag of the Mu'tasim Brigade | caption = | active = 4 August 2015 – unknown | ideology = | leaders = *Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hassan Khalil<ref name="now1">{{Cite web|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566820-syria-rebels-near-isis-stronghold-in-n-aleppo|title=Syria rebels near ISIS stronghold in N. Aleppo|work=Now|date=4 April 2016|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630000317/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566820-syria-rebels-near-isis-stronghold-in-n-aleppo|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Lieutenant Assad Nasser<ref name="rfs">{{cite web|url=https://rfsmediaoffice.com/2016/09/16/%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%85-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/#.V-8GAuB97IU|title=Brigade Mutassim .. sons of the Syrian revolution who went out in the face of the lion and Daesh|work=RFS Media Office|date=16 September 2016|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023212047/https://rfsmediaoffice.com/2016/09/16/%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%aa%d8%b5%d9%85-%d8%a3%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9/#.V-8GAuB97IU|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Mustafa Sejari (political leader)<ref name="rfs"/> *Captain Anis Haj<ref name="golden">{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/free-syrian-army-training-camps-turkey-islamic-state.html|title=FSA sees 'golden opportunity' with end of Turkey's operations in Syria|work=Al-Monitor|author=Khaled al-Khateb|date=18 April 2017|access-date=4 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625092858/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2017/04/free-syrian-army-training-camps-turkey-islamic-state.html|archive-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> *Abu al-Abbas<ref name="direct">{{cite web|url=https://syriadirect.org/not-just-talk-new-north-aleppo-rebel-alliance-breaks-islamic-state-blockade/|title='Not just talk': New north Aleppo rebel alliance breaks Islamic State blockade|work=Syria Direct|date=9 June 2016|access-date=15 March 2026|author1=Walid al-Nofal|author2=Justin Schuster}}</ref> *Awad Abu Saqr{{surrendered}} (former military commander)<ref name="split">{{Cite web|url=http://www.adarpress.net/2017/06/29/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%8A/|title=A new split in the ranks of the "shield of the Euphrates" .. and Asayish Shahba arrest sleeper cell belonging to the factions|work=Adar Press|date=29 June 2017|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807214947/http://www.adarpress.net/2017/06/29/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%8A/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | headquarters = Mare' | area = Aleppo Governorate, Syria | size = *500 (2016)<ref name="rfs"/> *1,000 (2017)<ref name="golden"/> | partof = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Free Syrian Army<br/>{{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Syrian National Army *Syrian Front for Liberation {{Flagicon image|Mare' Operations Room Insignia.svg}} Mare' Operations Room (2015–16)<br/>Hawar Kilis Operations Room (since April 2016) | allegiance = {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Syrian Interim Government | successor = | allies = *{{Flag|Turkey}} *{{flag|United States}} *{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sultan Murad Brigade.png}} Sultan Murad Division *{{flagicon image|Logo of the Hamza Division.jpg}} Hamza Division *{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Sham Legion.svg}} Sham Legion<ref name="now1"/> *{{flagicon image|Liwa Ahfad Saladin variant opposition flag.svg}} Descendants of Saladin Brigade<ref name="direct"/> (until 2017) *{{flagicon image|Jaysh Al Islam white flag.svg}} Jaysh al-Islam (since 2018)<ref name="agreement">{{cite web|url=https://www.syria.tv/%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%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%85|title=اتفاق بين جيش الإسلام وفيلق الرحمن برعاية لواء المعتصم|trans-title=Agreement between the Army of Islam and the Legion of Rahman under the auspices of Mu'tasim Brigade|work=Syria TV|date=12 May 2018|access-date=22 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175418/https://www.syria.tv/%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%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%85|archive-date=23 May 2022}}</ref> *{{flagicon image|Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg}} Al-Rahman Legion (since 2018)<ref name="agreement"/> | opponents = {{flag|Islamic State}}<br/> {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces (since 2018) | battles = '''Syrian Civil War''' *Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016) *Operation Euphrates Shield *Battle of al-Bab *Operation Olive Branch | groups = | url = https://twitter.com/AlmotacemBrigad }}
The '''Mu'tasim Division''' ({{langx|ar|فرقة المُعتصم|Firqat al-Mu'tasim}}), formerly the '''Mutasim Brigade''' ({{langx|ar|لواء المعتصم|Liwa al-Mu'tasim}}), was a Free Syrian Army faction active in the northern Aleppo Governorate, based in the town of Mare'.
==Ideology== The Mu'tasim Division supports the political Syrian peace process. However, it opposes the U.S.–Russia peace proposals on Syria.<ref name="rfs"/> The commander of the group has called for "freedom and justice", which led to tensions between him and the al-Nusra Front, seeing him as a threat to al-Nusra's project.<ref name="rudaw">{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/arabic/middleeast/syria/08062016|title= اختطاف قائد "لواء المعتصم" أثناء توجهه للقتال في مارع بسوريا|trans-title=The kidnapping of the commander of "Brigade Mu'tasim" while on his way to fight in Syria Mare'|work=Rudaw|date=8 June 2016|access-date=4 February 2025|lang=ar}}</ref> The Mu'tasim Division has criticised al-Nusra for “attacking rebel factions, stealing weapons of the Mujahideen, cutting roads, seizing headquarters, refusing to respect Shariah practices, and tarnishing the reputation of the sons and leaders of the revolution.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://syrianobserver.com/EN/features/22112/mutasim_brigade_spokesman_urges_hts_comply_with_turkey_demands.html|title=Mutasim Brigade Spokesman Urges HTS to Comply with Turkey's Demands|date=11 October 2017|access-date=4 February 2025|work=Zaman al-Wasl|publisher=The Syrian Observer}}</ref>
==History== The group's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hassan Khalil, was originally a rebel commander in Jabal al-Akrad, Latakia Governorate. However, in 2015 he was forced out of Latakia by the al-Nusra Front after tensions between the two groups. His group then moved to Aleppo.<ref name="rudaw"/>
In April 2016 the group participated in the Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016), along with the Sham Legion and the Sultan Murad Division, driving vehicles from Doudiyan toward ISIL positions in al-Rai and capturing eight villages in the way.<ref name="now1"/>
In June the group formed an alliance with the Descendants of Saladin Brigade and six other rebel groups in Mare' after breaking an ISIL siege on the town. The new coalition claims to have 1,500 fighters under a unified military command and established contact with the rival Syrian Democratic Forces.<ref name="direct"/> Later that month, Muhammad Hassan Khalil was kidnapped in Mare'. The Mu'tasim Brigade accused Major General Dara Aza, former commander of rebels in Mare', and al-Nusra Front of carrying out the abduction.<ref name="rfs"/>
In August and September the Mu'tasim Brigade participated in Operation Euphrates Shield which captured Jarabulus and al-Rai.<ref name="rfs"/>
On 12 April 2017, 100 new fighters of the Mu'tasim Brigade graduated after they completed training in a camp near Mare', bringing the total number of members in the group to 1,000, according to one of its commanders.<ref name="golden"/>
On 29 June 2017, Awad Abu Saqr, a military commander in the Mu'tasim Brigade, defected to the Syrian Democratic Forces.<ref name="split"/>
On 25 April 2018, the Mu'tasim Brigade withdraw its recognition of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces due to the National Coalition's inability to make national decisions. The group's decision came hours after George Sabra, Suheir Atassi, and Khaled Khoja resigned from the National Coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5742|title=First FSA-Led Faction De-recognize "Syrian Coalition"|work=Syria Call|date=25 April 2018|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120518/https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5742|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 12 May 2018, commanders of Jaysh al-Islam and al-Rahman Legion, who frequently fought until they were defeated in eastern Ghouta and transferred to northern Aleppo, met in the Mu'tasim Brigade's headquarters and pledged not to continue fighting each other. Syrian Interim Government head Jawad Abu Hatab also attended the meeting.<ref name="agreement"/>
Fighting broke out between the group's head, Al-Mutasim Abbas, his brother, Ahmed Abbas, and other members of the leadership (including Mustafa Sejiri, Al-Farouq Abu Bakr and Muhammad Al-Daher) at an April 2024 meeting in which Ahmed Abbas was killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://levant24.com/news/2024/04/internal-conflict-within-snas-al-mutasim-division-results-in-death-and-arrests/|title=Internal Conflict Within SNA's Al-Mutasim Division Results in Death and Arrests|date=27 April 2024|access-date=22 February 2025|work=Levant24}}</ref> Sejiri, Abu Bakr, Al-Daher and Jamil Lala, the military police director, were all confirmed arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/04/interim-govt-confirms-arrest-of-attackers-on-al-mutasim-division-in-aleppo-countryside/|title=Interim Govt confirms arrest of attackers on al-Mutasim Division in Aleppo countryside|date=27 April 2024|access-date=13 February 2025|work=Enab Baladi}}</ref>
On 17 August 2025, the group's prominent leader, Alaa al-Din Ayoub (known as "Al-Farouq Abu Bakr"), was assassinated in Azaz.<ref>{{cite news |title=علاء الدين أيوب "الفاروق أبو بكر" ثائر حلب ومفاوضها أثناء الحصار |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2025/9/4/%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A3%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF |publisher=Al Jazeera Arabic |date=4 September 2025 |language=ar}}</ref>
Although the Mu'tasim Division, as part of the Syrian National Army, has been under the jurisdiction of the Syrian caretaker government since January 2025, there have been reports of its commanders extorting money in Afrin since then.<ref>{{cite web |title=Demanding 17,000 SUD for releasing him {{!}} Commander of “Al-Mu’tasim” Division extorts relatives of arrested young man in Afrin |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/371826/ |publisher=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |date=19 October 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * List of military units named after people
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Anti-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war Category:Anti–Islamic State factions in Syria Category:Military units and factions of the Syrian civil war Category:Military units and formations established in 2015 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2025 Category:Free Syrian Army Category:Syrian National Army Category:Turkish-supported militant groups of the Syrian civil war