{{Short description|Syrian Islamist rebel group}} {{distinguish|Syrian Front for Liberation|Syrian Islamic Liberation Front|National Front for the Liberation of Syria}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox war faction | name = Syrian Liberation Front | native_name = {{langx|ar|جبهة تحرير سوريا}}<br>Jabhat Tahrir Suriya | native_name_lang = | war = the Syrian Civil War | image = File:Logo of the Syrian Liberation Front.png | caption = The logo of the Syrian Liberation Front | active = 18 February 2018 – 29 January 2025 | ideology = Sunni Islamism<ref name=hardline>{{cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/2018/02/19/399757/hardline-syria-rebels-announce-merger/|title=Hardline Syria rebels announce merger|work=Agence France-Presse|date=19 February 2018}}</ref> | status = | position = | leaders = *Hassan Soufan<ref name=ds>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2018/02/20/ahrar-al-sham-nour-al-din-al-zenki-unify-against-syrian-regime|title=Ahrar al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki unify against Syrian regime|work=Daily Sabah with Anadolu Agency|date=19 February 2018}}</ref> ({{small|general commander}}) *Sheikh Tawfiq Shahabuddin<ref name=baladi>{{cite web|url=https://www.baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/27797/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%86%D9%83%D9%8A_%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7|title=أحرار الشام والزنكي يشكلون "جبهة تحرير سوريا"|work=Baladi News Network|date=18 February 2018|access-date=19 February 2018|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609151813/https://www.baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/27797/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%86%D9%83%D9%8A_%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>({{small|deputy commander and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander}}) *Hussam Atrash<ref name=baladi/><br>({{small|head of political bureau}}) *Capt. Khalid Abu Yaman<ref name=baladi/><br>({{small|military commander}}) *Jaber Ali Pasha ("Abu Bara")<ref name=ali>{{cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/207770|title=مصدر: جابر علي باشا قائدًا عامًا لـ "جبهة تحرير سوريا" للمزيد |work=Enab Baladi|date=18 February 2018}}</ref><br>({{small|Ahrar al-Sham deputy commander}}) | clans = *{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} Ahrar al-Sham * Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement({{small|until 2019}}) * Katibat al-'Iqaab<ref>{{cite tweet|number=965335199801315333|user=badly_xeroxed|title=Liwa al-Adiyat of the Badia Sector...|date=18 February 2018}}</ref> * Sheikh Fadel al-Akel * Katibat al-Bayia Lillah * Katibat Usud al-Tawheed * Liwa al-Adiyat * Martyr Abu Omar Battalion | headquarters = | area = Syria *Idlib Governorate *Aleppo Governorate *Hama Governorate | size = | partof = Revolutionaries of Atarib {{small|(2018)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://syrianwardaily.wordpress.com/2018/03/02/syrian-war-daily-2nd-of-march-2018/|title=Syrian War Daily – 2nd of March 2018|date=2 March 2018|publisher=}}</ref><br>Maarrat al-Nu'man Military Council (2018)<ref name=junta>{{cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5910|title=Junta for Revolutionary factions of Ma'arat al-Nu'man taking actions to control security|work=Syria Call|date=3 May 2018|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-date=9 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509232627/http://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5910|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>National Front for Liberation ({{small|since August 2018}})<ref name=meet>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/244317|title=Meet the leading leaders of the "National Liberation Front"|work=Enab Baladi|date=1 August 2018}}</ref> | predecessor = | successor = | allies = {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey<ref>{{cite web|url=https://syrianwardaily.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/idlib-rebel-civil-war-28-2-18/|title=Idlib Rebel Civil War – 28/2/18|date=1 March 2018|publisher=Syrian War Daily}}</ref><br>{{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Syrian National Army<br>Jaysh al-Ahrar<br>{{Flagicon image|Logo of the Suqour al-Sham Brigade.svg|border=no}} Suqour al-Sham Brigades<ref name="wordpress.com">{{cite web|url=https://syrianwardaily.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/syrian-war-daily-21st-of-february-2018/|title=Syrian War Daily – 21st of February 2018|date=21 February 2018|publisher=Syrian War Daily}}</ref><br>{{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg}} Tahrir al-Sham ({{small|sometimes, ceasefire since April 2018}}) | split = | opponents = {{flagicon|Syria|1980}} Ba'athist Syria<ref name=ds/><br> {{flag|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}<br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces {{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg}} Tahrir al-Sham ({{small|ceasefire since April 2018}})<ref name=challenge>{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/two-of-the-largest-factions-in-syria%E2%80%99s-northwest-merge-challenge-hts-dominance/|title=Two of the largest factions in Syria's northwest merge, challenge HTS dominance|author1=Waleed Khaled a-Noufal|author2=Tariq Adely|work=Syria Direct|date=22 February 2018|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723193235/http://syriadirect.org/news/two-of-the-largest-factions-in-syria%E2%80%99s-northwest-merge-challenge-hts-dominance/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | battles = {{tree list}} * '''Syrian Civil War''' ** Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War *** Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict ** Insurgency in Idlib ** 2018 Hama offensive ** Turkish military operation in Afrin<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-last-of-the-syrian-good-guy-rebels|title=The Last of the Syrian Good-Guy Rebels|work=The Daily Beast|author=Lindsey Snell|date=30 July 2018}}</ref> {{tree list/end}} | website = }}
'''Syrian Liberation Front''' ({{langx|ar|جبهة تحرير سوريا|Jabhat Tahrir Suriya}}, '''JTS''') was a Syrian Islamist rebel group that was formed in early 2018<ref name="Nexis 2">{{cite web |title=No imminent decision |url=https://advance-lexis-com.argo.library.okstate.edu/document/teaserdocument/?pdmfid=1516831&crid=5cf0bfcc-673c-4f09-93e3-eb5da08b86ca&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A584Y-6G61-JCF2-217V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A584Y-6G61-JCF2-217V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=142710&pdteaserkey=h1&pditab=allpods&ecomp=1fyk&earg=sr5&prid=80cdda3f-c3b5-435e-84d4-a7c1f2fd0dcd |website=Nexis Uni |publisher=Alef Publishing Ltd. |accessdate=2 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> during Syrian civil war and was based out of the Aleppo Governorate in northwestern Syria.
==Leadership== Initially, Jaber Ali Pasha, deputy commander of Ahrar al-Sham, was nominated as the general commander of the Syrian Liberation Front.<ref name=ali /> Sheikh Tawfiq Shahabuddin, commander of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, was named the deputy commander. Hussam Atrash and Captain Khalid Abu Yaman were appointed as the political and military commanders of the group.<ref name=baladi /> However, after hours of disputes over leadership positions, Hassan Soufan, general commander of Ahrar al-Sham, took over as the general commander of the group, replacing Jaber Ali Pasha.<ref name="soufan">{{cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/207774|title=خلاف يعيد حسن صوفان قائدًا لـ "جبهة تحرير سوريا" للمزيد|last=|first=|date=18 February 2018|work=Enab Baladi|access-date=}}</ref> Elected in October 2017, Hassan Soufan was the leader of Ahrar al-Sham and stated he was determined to distinguish his movement from "criminal" and "corrupt" projects, such as "Hitish and Daesh".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ctc.usma.edu/al-qaida-lost-control-syrian-affiliate-inside-story/|title=How al-Qa'ida Lost Control of its Syrian Affiliate: The Inside Story|date=15 February 2018|publisher=Combating Terrorism Center|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331043834/https://ctc.usma.edu/al-qaida-lost-control-syrian-affiliate-inside-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== {{see also|Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict}} On 18 February 2018 Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement merged and joined the Syrian Liberation Front. By doing so the SLF gained two of the largest Sunni Islamist rebel groups in northwestern Syria behind their main rival, Tahrir al-Sham. In their merger announcement both groups called on other rebel groups to join,<ref name=hardline /> and stated that the merger was a result of an initiative by the Syrian Islamic Council.<ref name=baladi />
On 19 Feb 2018, the day after the merger, violent clashes erupted between the group and Tahrir al-Sham in the western Aleppo Governorate. The conflict soon spread to the Idlib Governorate where the SLF captured the city of Maarrat al-Nu'man, the towns of Ariha and Tramla, and the Wadi Deif military base from HTS on 21 February.<ref name=challenge />
By 18 April, pro-SLF media reported that after 60 days of fighting, 750 Tahrir al-Sham fighters and 225 SLF and Suqour al-Sham Brigades fighters had been killed, 3,000 fighters from both sides had been wounded, and 15 armoured vehicles (most of them belonging to Tahrir al-Sham) had been destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=112059|title=After Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham expelled al-Zenki movement towards Afrin, hundreds of fighters of the National Liberation Front are preparing to withdraw from Idlib and Hama to the same destination|date=10 January 2019|website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}</ref> The fighting ended with a ceasefire and gains for both sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5575|title=60 Days of clashes & Shocking numbers of deaths of HTS, JTS & Soqour al-Sham|work=Syria Call|date=18 April 2018|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422042752/http://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5575|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 3 May 2018, the Syrian Liberation Front, Suqour al-Sham, Sham Legion, and the Free Idlib Army formed a military council in the SLF-held Maarrat al-Nu'man. The council stated that it will not allow other factions to be formed in the city.<ref name=junta />
On 1 August 2018, in an effort to strengthen its position in Idlib before the Syrian Arab Army turned its attention towards the province<ref name="Nexis 3">{{cite web |title=Video: Syrian Army Carries Out Anti-ISIS Operation in Eastern Al-Suwayda |url=https://advance-lexis-com.argo.library.okstate.edu/document/?pdmfid=1516831&crid=23b86239-8cdf-4c2c-96c4-084c09631bfa&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A5SHH-3SW1-DXCW-D3DP-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5SHH-3SW1-DXCW-D3DP-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=400349&pdteaserkey=sr0&pditab=allpods&ecomp=1fyk&earg=sr0&prid=80cdda3f-c3b5-435e-84d4-a7c1f2fd0dcd |website=Nexis Uni |publisher=Plus Media Solutions Private Limited |accessdate=2 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and to eliminate al-Qaida groups in the region,<ref name="dsabah">{{cite news |author=Merve Şebnem Oruç |title=Will Putin stop a looming Idlib attack or sit on the sidelines? |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/merve-sebnem-oruc/2019/02/27/will-putin-stop-a-looming-idlib-attack-or-sit-on-the-sidelines |date=26 February 2019 |newspaper=Daily Sabah}}</ref> the Syrian Liberation Front, along with 6 other groups (Suqour al-Sham Brigades, Jaysh al-Ahrar, Damascus Gathering, Unit 82 SWAT Forces, Free Hayan Brigade,<ref name="smart">{{cite web |title=Dozens of fighters form the brigade of northern Aleppo and declare "joining the" National Front |url=https://smartnews-agency.com/ar/wires/317157/%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9 |website=Smart News |publisher=Smart News |access-date=2 May 2019 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424021505/https://smartnews-agency.com/ar/wires/317157/%25D8%25B9%25D8%25B4%25D8%25B1%25D8%25A7%25D8%25AA-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2585%25D9%2582%25D8%25A7%25D8%25AA%25D9%2584%25D9%258A%25D9%2586-%25D9%258A%25D8%25B4%25D9%2583%25D9%2584%25D9%2588%25D9%2586-%25D9%2584%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D8%25A1-%25D8%25B4%25D9%2585%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584-%25D8%25AD%25D9%2584%25D8%25A8-%25D9%2588%25D9%258A%25D8%25B9%25D9%2584%25D9%2586%25D9%2588%25D9%2586-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25A7%25D9%2586%25D8%25B6%25D9%2585%25D8%25A7%25D9%2585-%25D9%2584%25D9%2580-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25AC%25D8%25A8%25D9%2587%25D8%25A9 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Free North Brigade) in the area joined the National Front for Liberation. Anad al-Darwish ("Abu al-Munathir"), considered to be Ahrar al-Sham's most powerful military commander, was named the National Front for Liberation's chief of staff.<ref name=meet /> As one of the 17 members of the National Front for Liberation, the Syrian Liberation Front has access to resources, weapons, and training from the Turkish government. The Turkish Government has been backing the National Front for Liberation since its inception, and in turn has been backing the Syrian Liberation Front since joining the National Front for Liberation.<ref name="factions">{{cite web |title=11 factions form the "National Liberation Front" in Idlib |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/231479 |website=Enab Baladi |date=28 May 2018 |publisher=Enab Baladi}}</ref>
In January 2019, Nour al-Din al-Zenki withdrew to Afrin following the HTS-NLF conflict.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eyeing greater bargaining power, Tahrir Al Sham seizes wider slices of Syria's north|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/eyeing-greater-bargaining-power-tahrir-al-sham-seizes-wider-slices-of-syria-s-north-1.810043|access-date=25 August 2020|website=The National|date=7 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://twitter.com/Tahrer_Syria_1 Syrian Liberation Front] on Twitter (Arabic)
Category:Sunni Islamist groups Category:Anti-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war Category:2018 establishments in Syria Category:Anti–Islamic State factions in Syria