| Khalid ibn al-Walid Army | |
|---|---|
| جيش خالد بن الوليد | |
 Logo of Khalid Ibn Walid Army. | |
| Leaders | Abu Hashim al-Hamawi Abu Hashim al-Shami †(2016)[1] Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi †(2016–17)[2][3] Mohammad al-Refai(2017–18)[3] |
| Dates of operation | 21 May 2016 – 31 July 2018(As the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army) July 2018 – 2019(As Wilayat Hawran) |
| Groups |  Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade Islamic Muthanna Movement Jaysh al-Jihad |
| Headquarters | Al-Shajara,Daraa Governorate,Syria[3] |
| Active regions | Daraa Governorate andQuneitra Governorate,Syria |
| Ideology | Salafi jihadism |
| Size | 1,900–2,400+ (in 2018)[4][5] |
| Part of |  Islamic State |
| Opponents | Non-state opponents State opponents |
| Battles and wars | |
TheKhalid ibn al-Walid Army (Arabic:جيش خالد بن الوليدJaysh Khālid ibn al-Walīd) later known asIslamic State – Hawran Province, was an armedSalafi jihadist group active in southernSyria. It was formed by a merger of theYarmouk Martyrs Brigade, theIslamic Muthanna Movement, and theJaysh al-Jihad on 21 May 2016. The faction controlled a strip of territory southeast of theGolan Heights, and was in conflict with other forces of theSyrian rebels. The group was defeated and lost all of its territory to the Syrian Government on 31 July 2018, with many members surrendering. Many captured members of the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army were executed on the same day.[1]
The Khalid ibn al-Walid Army was named after a 7th-century Muslim commander namedKhalid ibn al-Walid who ledjihad on several regions in and aroundArabia and also spearheaded theMuslim conquest of the Levant following the decisiveBattle of Yarmouk. The Khalid ibn al-Walid Army enforced theIslamic State’s form ofSharia. In the small pocket the group controlled, its fighters forced women to wearburqas and men to wear loose trousers and to grow long hair and beards. Since 2016, the group had executed more than 20 people, mostly in the town ofShajara, bybeheading. The group had also locked smokers in cages and amputated people on allegations of theft.[10]
The group was named afterKhalid ibn al-Walid, who led the Muslim armies in theBattle of Yarmouk in 636 CE, which inflicted a heavy defeat on theByzantine Army and led to theMuslim conquest of the Levant. The group was established as a branch of theIslamic State in southernSyria.
The date on the document declaring the establishment of the group was 14 Sha'aban 1437, corresponding to Saturday 21 May 2016 and was signed by Abu Hashim al-Shami (also known as Abu Hashim al-Hamawi), the emir of the group.[11]
On 14 August 2016, the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army launched a major attack against theArmy of Conquest-held town of Hawd al-Yarmouk; however, despite heavy fighting and losses on both sides, no progress was made.[12][13]
In November 2016, the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army exchanged fire with anIsrael Defence Force unit stationed in the Golan Heights and then asked for apologies, according to former Israeli defense ministerMoshe Ya'alon. According toAymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, the reported apology "was deemed to be a misconception."[14]
The group launched anotheroffensive against the rebels in February 2017.
On 3 July 2018, the group became involved in the2018 Southern Syria offensive, after launching an attack on pro-government forces in Western Daraa. They were the suspected perpetrators of acoordinated series of attacks nearAs-Suwayda on July 25 that killed more than 250 people and injured scores more.
In September 2019, the group released photos of a captured Syrian government intelligence officer inDaraa and later executed him.[15][16]
On 5 November 2019, fighters from Islamic State – Hawran Province released photos after the death of ISIL's leaderAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi, pledging allegiance to his successorAbu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.[17]
On 22 December 2019, Islamic State – Hawran Province announced that its fighters managed to kill 2 Russian soldiers in the town ofTasil.[18]
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