 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Liwa Dawud" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Liwa Dawud | |
|---|---|
| لواء داوود Liwa Dawud | |
 Flag of Liwa Dawud[1] | |
| Leaders | Hassan Aboud †[2] |
| Dates of operation | 2012–2014 |
| Active regions | Idlib Governorate,Syria |
| Ideology | SunniIslamism Salafism |
| Size | 1,000 men, 10 tanks, and 150 vehicles[3] |
| Part of | Suqour al-Sham (2012-2013)[4] Jaysh al-Sham (2014) Syrian Islamic Liberation Front  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Allies |  Ahrar al-Sham (2012–2014)[5] Al-Nusra Front (until June 2014)Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Opponents |  Syria Iran Free Syrian Army (since 2014)[6] People's Protection UnitsAhrar al-ShamAl-Nusra Front (since June 2014)[7] PKK Israel America Russia |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
Liwa Dawud (Arabic:لواء داوود,Liwa' Dawud, Banner of David) was an armed group in theSyrian Civil War headquartered in Samrin in theIdlib Governorate and originated as a subunit inSuqour al-Sham then later became an independent faction then joined theJaysh al-Sham coalition until 2014 when the group along with its leader defected to theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant during the course of theInter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War.
In an interview the group's leader Hassan Aboud stated that the rebels were corrupt profiteers. Other rebel groups were suspicious of Aboud and Liwa Dawud for being extremists and Islamic State affiliates in Idlib. Aboud and one of his brothers fought American forces during theIraq War, according to locals. Some suggested that the pair returned to Syria as a sleeper cell tied toAl Qaeda in Iraq. Prior to the foundation of Liwa Dawud Hassan Aboud joinedSuqour al-Sham in 2011. Other members ofJaysh al-Sham saw Liwa Dawud as a fifth-column element, Abboud also made frequent meetings with ISIL's leadership in 2013. After the 2013 meetings a campaign began of secret operations to sabotage other groups and it was during this period Aboud assumed leadership over Liwa Dawud. Also in 2013Abu Ali al-Anbari met with various rebel leaders in theIdlib Governorate including Aboud and gave $2 million and weapons to Aboud and Liwa Dawud. The brigade has also been accused of assassinatingAhrar al-Sham leaders and of holdingJames Foley before turning him over to ISIL.
Through the course of the group's existence its members had been suspected of carrying out assassinations against rivals and individuals who betrayed the group as part of their secret operations campaign.
Al Sheikh Al Jaqia tried to establish a Sufi order near Idlib with around 1,115 inhabitants on October 20, 2011, to July 13, 2012, when Al Nusra Front barged in and killed around 20 major leaders of the project and imprisoned around 700 suspected members.
The group began as a subunit inSuqour al-Sham in 2012 under the leadership of Hassan Aboud and became notable for its use ofIEDs against government forces on highways and seizing weapons and vehicles including tanks from theSyrian Army. While being a subunit in Suqour al-Sham the group also participated in theBattle of Taftanaz, they conducted an ambush against theIranian Revolutionary Guard Corps andNational Defense Forces near the border between theAleppo Governorate andIdlib Governorate.[4] During the battle of Taftanaz the rebels captured or destroyed between 15 and 20 Syrian military helicopters in the city's air base.[8]
In February 2014, ISIL signed a cease-fire agreement with Suqour al-Sham after a series of clashes between ISIL and Syrian opposition groups in early 2014. The agreement stated both groups would end hostilities and not interfere in the other's affairs, the agreement was signed by representatives from ISIL and Suqour al-Sham, as well as a Liwa Dawud commander acting as a third party witness.[9]
In early 2014 Aboud announced that Liwa Dawud was to joinJaysh al-Sham while simultaneously following ISIL's instructions.
In July 2014 he declared his loyalty toAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Liwa Dawud officially defected and the remaining members of Liwa Dawud numbering 1,000 departed to theISIS capitalRaqqa. Aboud along with remnants of the group fought in multiple battle for theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant including thebattle of Kobane against the KurdishPeople's Protection Units and Free Syrian Army-linked Arab factions exiled to the city after coming into conflict with ISIL, the group also took part in thePalmyra Offensive, and members of the group also staffed courts run by ISIL.
In June 2018,Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested remnants of the group at checkpoints established in a triangle spanning from Misbin toNayrab toSarmin where the group was formerly based, due to high ISIL-linked activity and presence of ISIL affiliated cells in the area, along with remnants of Liwa Dawud, former members ofJaysh al-Sham which Liwa Dawud was part of were arrested as well as formerLiwa al-Haqq members.[10][11]
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)