TheSyrian National Army (SNA;[7]Arabic:الجيش الوطني السوري,romanized: al-Jaysh al-Waṭanī as-Sūrī), also known as theTurkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA),[b][34][35][36] was[6] a coalition of armed Syrian groups that participated in theSyrian civil war. Comprising various rebel factions that emerged at the start of the war in July 2011, it was officially established in 2017 under the auspices ofTurkey, who provided funding, training, and military support.[37]
The official aims of the SNA were to create a "safe zone" in northern Syria, consolidate with other rebel factions, and combat both Syrian government forces and Islamists.[44][45] Its presence expanded to the neighboringIdlib Governorate during the Syrian government's2019 northwestern offensive,[46][32] after which it incorporated theNational Front for Liberation on 4 October 2019.[37]
It was reported in January 2025 that the Turkish foreign ministerHakan Fidan announced that SNA factions would integrate under the newSyrian Army.[58][59] At theSyrian Revolution Victory Conference, which was held on 29 January 2025, most factions of the armed opposition, including the SNA, announced their dissolution and were incorporated into the newly formedMinistry of Defense.[60] Since then, the transitional government has been still integrating armed groups, including factions of the former Syrian National Army.[61] On 3 February there were circulated reports that the Ministry of Defense promoted two generals of the SNA,Abu Amsha andSaif Abu Bakr, to lead the newly formed 62nd Division and 76th Division of the Syrian Army.[62]
The SNA, which includes at least 25,000 fighters, with some sources estimating it to be 70,000,[47] mostly consists ofArabs andTurkmens.[55] The number ofSyrian Kurds among the SNA was much smaller. In January 2018, senior SNA commander Azad Shabo said that there were "dozens" among the FSA units[63] such as theAzadî Battalion,[64] whileAlmodon Online reported about 500 Kurdish fighters overall, including in non-FSA formations such asAhrar al-Sham, theLevant Front and the Army of Grandchildren.[65] By February 2018, a SNA commander said that 350 Kurds were part of the Syrian National Army.[66]
By the end of June 2017, most Turkish-backed FSA groups reorganized themselves into three military blocs:Victory,Sultan Murad andthe Levant. A number of other groups remained independent.[67] On 30 December 2017, the groups unified to form the National Army. By this time, three "legions" (corps) were established as part of the SNA: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. On 15 March 2018, rebel factions in northernHoms Governorate formed the 4th Legion, though it later transferred to northern Aleppo. Factions also moved fromRif Dimashq Governorate andDamascus to northern Aleppo.
On 4 October 2019, theNational Front for Liberation joined the National Army's command structure, planning to become its 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th legions.[68] Both NFL and SNA fighters were uninformed of the merger, which took place in a press conference inUrfa, southern Turkey, amid Turkish plans to launch an offensive against theSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF).[69]
According to a 2019 research paper published by the pro-government Turkish think tankSETA, "Out of the 28 factions in the Syrian National Army, 21 were previously supported by theUnited States, three of them via the Pentagon's program to combatIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Eighteen of these factions were supplied by theCIA via the MOM Operations Room in Turkey, a joint intelligence operation room of the "Friends of Syria" to support the armed opposition. Fourteen factions of the 28 were also recipients of the U.S.-suppliedTOW anti-tank guided missiles."[70]
In April 2021, an additional military formation was made in Idlib, named 'al-Quwat al-Radifa' (Auxiliary Forces).[48]
By September 2021, groups under the Syrian National Army have coalesced into two main blocs: the Azm Operations Room and theSyrian Front for Liberation.[71] Speaking of these blocs, a freelance journalist based in the region said that "These formations are only for show and they are not united in reality. Each faction still has its own leaders and members who do not take orders from the leaders of other factions. These formations only aim to protect themselves. Whenever factions feel threatened, they form new military bodies to protect themselves, but once the threat is gone, the formations fall apart."[72]
Ghazal base (132nd Brigade, unknown factional status since the 13th division merger between the Samarkand Brigade, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror Brigade, and Al-Waqqas Brigade on May 28, 2021)[16]
Mustafa Regiment (component of the 342nd Brigade, unknown status since May 28, 2021)[73][80]
1st Regiment (component of the 342nd Brigade, unknown status since May 28, 2021)[73]
122nd Brigade (Muntasir Billah Division, unknown brigade status since the 13th division merger between the Samarkand Brigade, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror Brigade, and Al-Waqqas Brigade on May 28, 2021)[73]
342nd Brigade (unknown status since May 28, 2021)[73][80]
TheFree Police have more overt connections to Turkey, reportedly wearing Turkish police uniforms decorated with the word "Polis" (Turkish for "Police"),[121] while Special Forces wear distinctive lightblue berets also worn byTurkish Gendarmerie. Some wore a Turkish flag patch on their uniforms at the inauguration ceremony on 24 January 2017.[122]
On 18 April 2018, the Raqqa Military Council, which consists of 6 groups, was announced in the city ofUrfa in southeastern Turkey.[108]
The organization's first known engagement was ajoint operation with theTurkish Armed Forces. In the first day, they took control ofJarabulus from ISIL.[123] After this, they expanded northeast, meeting with units of theSyrian Democratic Forces north ofManbij. They successfully pushed the SDF out of the Jarablus area and captured all its settlements; theEuphrates river was used as a demarcation line, with forces on the opposing sides.[124][125] On at least one occasion,American troops came to form a joint operation with Turkey; however after the TFSA'sAhrar al-Sharqiya Brigade's verbal attacks ("crusaders", "pigs") against them, the US troops withdrew, being escorted from the area by US-backed units in the TFSA, including theHamza Division and theal-Mu'tasim Brigade.[126] A U.S. defense official confirmed the event, but said that U.S. soldiers were still deployed in the area.[127] The joint forces pushed ISIL to the south. After this success, Turkey-backed FSA made contact nearMare with the SDF forces from theAfrin Canton. Contact between the two saw the group attack some SDF-held towns with Turkishartillery support. The attacks were repelled, with casualties on both sides.[128]
Rebel fighter opening fire with a machine gun during theBattle of al-Bab, 14 December 2016.
In February 2017, the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army and the Turkish Armed Forces advanced to besiegeal-Bab.[129][130][131] By 27 February, the group and Turkish Armed Forcesseized al-Bab.[132][133] As of February 2017, 470 fighters of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army died in Operation Euphrates Shield, while the Turkish armed forces lost 68.[78]
As of March 2017, the TFSA and the Turkish army were effectively blocked from moving further east by advances of the SAA. This occurred when the SDF'sManbij Military Council handed over some territory bordering the Turkish positions to the SAA, creating a buffer zone.[134] As a result, the TFSA failed to achieve other stated goals, including capturing the SDF-held city of Manbij and participating in theCoalition offensive on Raqqa.[135]
On 24 September 2017, theHamza Division announced the opening of amilitary academy in the city ofal-Bab. According to Abdullah Halawa, military commander of the group, 2,200 fighters will undergo two months of training in the academy, with the goal of forming a "Syrian National Army" in northern Syria.[136]
2018: Operation Olive Branch
Syrian National Army fighters near Jandiris district northern Aleppo's countryside, 11 February 2018
On 20 January 2018, Turkey launcheda new operation inAfrin Region, against the Kurdish-ledDemocratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria. The SNA conducted ground offensives against theYPG andSDF supported by and in conjunction withTurkish armed forces (TAF/TSK) air strikes, artillery, armored units, and special forces units.[137][138] The first phase of the operation was to capture the entire Afrin-Turkey border.[139][better source needed] On 1 February, the SNA captured the strategic town of Bulbul after a fierce battle with the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG).[140][better source needed] In early March, the second phase of Operation Olive Branch was launched after successfully clearing the entire Afrin-Turkey border.[141] On 3 March, after fierce fighting, the SNA captured the town of Rajo.[142] On 8 March, the SNA captured Jinderes, meaning that they now have control over all major roads leading to the city of Afrin.[143] On 13 March, SNA forces reached Afrin city and encircled it.[144][145] On 18 March, the SNA took full control of Afrin, marking their second big victory after Operation Euphrates Shield.[146] Since the capture of Afrin city, SNA forces have been busy clearing the recently captured areas of mines and providing security and stability to the region.[147] As of 13 June SNA forces have dismantled 240 mines and 1,231 IEDs.[148]
2019: Operation Dawn of Idlib and Operation Peace Spring
Syrian National Army fighters on 12 October 2019
By 16 August, the SNA sent considerable reinforcements to the frontlines of Hama and Idlib, where the Syrian Arab Armywas launching an offensive against HTS and various rebel groups.[149] Following this, rebel forces launched another heavy attack on the government-held village of Sukayk.
On 9 October 2019, Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, had launched what they calledOperation Peace Spring against SDF to eradicate what Turkish President Erdogan called "the threat of terror" against Turkey.[150] On 13 October, Peace Spring forces captured the border town of tal Abyad.[151] After the conclusion of theSecond Battle of Ras al-Ayn on 20 October, SDF fighters retreated from the border town of Ras al Ain during the cease fire, which was brokered by the United States and Turkey.[152] On 25 November, the operation was completed, after securing the territories between Ras al Ayn and Tal Abyad.[153]
In December 2024, the Syrian National Army advanced eastward during the opposition offensives, seizing areas such asManbij from the Syrian Democratic Forces.[154]
Operations outside Syria
Libya
Since 2020, Turkey has beenhiring and transporting fighters from the Syrian National Army to support and bolster the manpower of theLibyanGNA.[155] Several SNA member groups volunteered for the operation despite strong objections of the Syrian Interim Government.[8] Up to 481 have died in combat.[156]
Azerbaijan
In September 2020, Turkey deployed 2,580 fighters from the Syrian National Army tofight in Nagorno-Karabakh,[9] where according to SOHR, up to 541 have died in combat.[157]
In July 2024, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkey had deployed SNA fighters to participate in the Turkish-PKK conflict in Northern Iraq. According to SOHR sources, the number of Syrian fighters expected to join this mission was estimated to be nearly 400 mercenaries from theSultan Suleiman Shah Division, theAl-Hamzah Division and theSultan Murad Division.[162] According to the sources, some SNA fighters have been captured by the "Kurdistan Workers' Party".[162]
Internal conflict
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2018)
On 26 March 2016,Ahrar ash-Sham ordered the anti-YPG Kurdish FSA groupLiwa Ahfad Saladin to remove theflag of Kurdistan from their posts and threatened military action if they did not.[163] However, Liwa Ahfad Saladin's commander denied the incident ever occurred and stated Ahrar ash-Sham to be its ally.[164]
On 27 September 2016, several Ahrar al-Sham fighters publicly burned a FSA flag inAzaz. The Ahrar al-Sham spokesman denied involvement and the incident sparked pro-FSA demonstrations in the city.[165]
On 14 November 2016, theLevant Front and theSultan Murad Division clashed at theAzaz border gate withKilis, Turkey.[166] Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, a former member of the Levant Front, joined the fighting after they said the Levant Front leaders was "acting like gangs".[167]
On 3 April 2017, Ahrar al-Sham reportedly attacked Liwa Ahfad Saladin inQabasin and captured more than 8 of their fighters, including a commander. Hours later, the prisoners were released after negotiations, although tensions between the two groups remain.[168]
On 13 April 2017, clashes broke out between the Levant Front and the SultanSuleyman Shah Brigade 100 kilometers north of Aleppo after both groups said the other was committingcorruption. The Sultan Murad Division, theHamza Division, and the Northern Hawks Brigade sided with the Sultan Suleyman Shah Brigade during the clashes.[169]
On 14 May 2017, two separate clashes inJarabulus and Gandura pitted theAhrar al-Sharqiya Brigade against the Sultan Murad Division and theSham Legion. The fighting stopped after the intervention of theTurkish Army.[170]
Between 24 and 25 May 5 FSA factions including the Levant Front, theHamza Division, and theSultan Murad Division conducted a joint attack on the Revolutionary Knights Brigade between Azaz andal-Rai and captured more than 20 of their fighters, in addition to killing and wounding at least 10. The FSA factions said the Revolutionary Knights Brigade was affiliated to the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement and Tahrir al-Sham and partaking insmuggling,looting,extortion, and abuses of civilians.[172]
Between 4 and 15 June, heavy fighting broke out between TFSA factions led by the Sultan Murad Division and Ahrar al-Sham and its allies in and near al-Bab. By 15 June 33 people were killed and 55 injured in the infighting. On 8 June, between 60 and 70 TFSA fighters, including several Sultan Murad Division commanders, defected to theSyrian Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces during the clashes.[173]
On 3 July 2017, Mahmoud Khallo, commander of theDescendants of Saladin Brigade, declared that his unit would not participate in a planned Turkish-led offensive against the YPG and SDF in theAfrin District and theShahba region.[174] Following the announcement, the group was attacked by multiple Turkish-backed groups, which captured the group's positions and warehouses with vehicles and equipment. On 14 July, Khallo himself was captured by theLevant Front, which said he was affiliated with bothal-Qaeda and theDemocratic Union Party (PYD), and wastortured. The Levant Front then handed him over to Turkish security forces, whointerrogated him.[175] After being released soon after, Khallo protested against his unit's treatment and criticized that "Turkey was apparently only interested in using the Syrian militias to further its own strategic goals". He also said that Liwa Ahfad Saladin, now without weapons, would set up a political party.[176]
On 25 March 2018, following thecapture of Afrin a week earlier, clashes broke out between the Hamza Division and Ahrar al-Sharqiya in the city, resulting in the latter group capturing around 200 fighters from the former. A ceasefire agreement between the two groups was signed on the same day under the auspices of Turkey.[177]
On 18 November 2018, at least 25 militants were killed and dozens wounded in heavy clashes between Turkish-backed insurgent factions in the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin. The clashes primarily occurred in the Mahmudiya and Villat neighborhoods, killing 14 fighters fromAhrar al-Sharqiya and nine from the other groups.[178]
In June 2017, theKurdish National Council said the rebels kidnapped 55 Kurdish civilians and displaced hundreds ofYazidis in northern Aleppo.[181]
Several cases of Human rights violations have been reported by theSyrian Observatory for Human rights (SOHR).[182] According to Kurdish sources, Kurdish local politicianHevrin Khalaf was executed nearQamishli by the Syrian National Army, her death was later confirmed by theSOHR.[35] SOHR further reported that at least 9 civilians had been executed by the rebel troops.[183]
On 3 October 2018, the Glory Corps attempted to seize 4 houses inhabited by displaced families fromArbin in Afrin city to use as headquarters, but were stopped by theSultan Murad Division and the rebel military police.[184]
On 27 January 2019, Glory Corps and Sham Legion fighters kidnapped a doctor from his clinic in Afrin and tortured him, and said he was a member of theDemocratic Union Party (PYD); the Sham Legion denied its fighters were involved.[185]
After the SNA captured the border town ofTell Abyad and its surroundings during the offensive in northern and eastern Syria in October 2019, Glory Corps fighters reportedly kidnapped several young men from Bîr Atwan village, west of Tell Abyad, and beat and humiliated them.[186] On 22 October, fighters from the group trampled and mutilated the body of what appeared to be aWomen's Protection Units (YPJ) fighter they killed in the countryside nearKobanî, laughing while they did so.[187] The SNA captured four unarmed people and promptlyexecuted them on aroad.[188]
On 15 September 2020, a report by the investigators of the UN's International Independent Commission on Syria denounced the atrocities committed against Kurdish populations by Syrian National Army forces: torture, rape, murder, systematic looting, rackets, forced displacement, forced appropriation of civilian property, arbitrary detentions and kidnappings.[189][190]
The2023 Trafficking in Persons Report mentioned that factions of the Syrian National Army recruited and used Syrian children as child soldiers in Libya.[191]
^الخطيب, حسام (11 September 2018)."المعارضة المعتدلة.. القوة الأساسية في إدلب".هيومن فويس | عين على الحقيقة. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved4 October 2019.
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