The free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army deserters based in turkey, led by col riad alasaad. Assad forces have practically left the area, and kurdish militias have set. Ultimately, even if the smc only serves as a mechanism for greater cooperation and coordination, it is a significant development in that it has united the efforts of rebel commanders across syria. Jul 16, 2012 the free syrian army is disintegrating. This cannot possibly be the case, but they may have as many as 20,000. Al jazeera reports that the free syrian army, a network of mostly former syrian military soldiers primarily focused on fighting the authoritarian regime of syrian dictator bashar alassad, has seen its power wane dramatically this year amid widespread desertions. Their ranks soon swelled with thousands of volunteers, some wanting to defend their towns from regimes brutality, others also are driven by ideological opposition to. The title of this video implies that they are deserters who joined the free syrian army. Free syrian army in aleppo in pictures world news the. Isis commander mahmoud alfaraj, together with ghassan. Free syrian army poses growing threat to assad france 24. Oct 09, 2016 syrian filmmaker firas, now living in germany, uses youtube and comedy to break down barriers between germans and refugees.
Although peaceful protesters still take to the streets by the thousands, the phenomenon that is the free syrian army fsa is, short of a palace coup, becoming the main actor in a revolution that is growing nastier by the day. The free syrian army fsa has evolved significantly since its emergence in the summer of 2011. The terrorist groups and socalled organizations as the syrian alqaeda offshoot branch in syria normally lead the war against the syrian arab army saa and the secular government, including the syrian president alassad, in the capital damascus because they are better trained and organized than the other criminal groups, consisting either. Various of fighters with the free syrian army taking up positions, running in the narrow streets of the old city, shooting their weapons at syrian army positions. The free syrian army has an interest in amplifying its activities to encourage defections. Dec 15, 2011 defectors from the free syrian army, whose leaders are based in exile in neighboring turkey, fired a rocketpropelled grenade at a bus carrying policemen into the town of busra alharir, killing. Their ranks soon swelled with thousands of volunteers, some wanting to defend their towns from regimes brutality, others also are driven by ideological opposition to assads secular dictatorship. The free syrian army fsa is a loose faction in the syrian civil war founded on 29 july 2011.
These units were helped by the early defectors from the regime, who it. Sep 28, 20 the syrian civil war is being waged by a complex mosaic of governments, rebel factions, civil councils and religious sects. Wadi khaled, lebanon a group of defectors calling themselves the free syrian army is attempting the first effort to organize an armed challenge to president bashar alassads rule, signaling. It initial fighting force were predominantly members of defected syrian armed forces personnel and volunteers. Killing them with white phosphorus bombs, burning dowin entire cities is what all has happend till now. Sep 25, 2011 the free syrian army has an interest in amplifying its activities to encourage defections. Subscribe to our channel one of the defectors, colonel abdal fareed zakaria, spoke excusively to al jazeera.
Free syrian army rebels defect to islamist group jabhat alnusra this article is more than 7 years old the wellresourced organisation, which is linked to alqaida, is luring many antiassad. There are claims that the fsa has up to 50,000 fighters. Last days in vietnam director rory kennedy shares footage from her documentary on the end of the usvietnam war, including a story about the daring lengths people went to leave the country as the. By december 2011, the fsa estimated it had attracted 15,000 to 25,000 defectors from the armed forces. In a column published tuesday by the washington post, erdogans communications director, fahrettin altun said that erdogan and us president trump had agreed to transfer the leadership of the counterdaesh campaign to ankara, offering that turkish forces together with the free syrian army, will cross the turkishsyrian border shortly. The attacks by the free syrian army come two days after defectors killed 34 soldiers and members of the security in the southern province of daraa. Free syrian army the independent us latest news and.
By december 2011, the fsa estimated it had attracted 15,000 to. Pages in category defectors to the free syrian army the following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total. The free syrian army, which at one point was the main fighting force against assads regime, is a collection of smaller government opposition. This video, published october 5th on youtube, shows dozens of syrian soldiers dancing and singing an antiregime song. Humor and hugs turn a syrian refugee into a youtube star. Its members are being slaughtered, fleeing or getting captured. Jul 05, 20 he took up arms against the regime, one of the first to join a new organisation called the free syrian army fsa. The actual strength of the free syrian army, or the influence it wields from exile, is difficult to measure.
Jun 22, 2012 subscribe to our channel one of the defectors, colonel abdal fareed zakaria, spoke excusively to al jazeera. By clicking on continue you confirm that you are 18 years and over. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle east. Activists committed to preserving the revolts pacifism have a stake in playing down its relevance. May 08, 20 free syrian army rebels defect to islamist group jabhat alnusra this article is more than 7 years old the wellresourced organisation, which is linked to alqaida, is luring many antiassad. The syrian civil war is being waged by a complex mosaic of governments, rebel factions, civil councils and religious sects. Jul 20, 2012 defected soldiers formed free syrian army antigovernment forces in syria known as the free syrian army have gained ground against the regime of president bashar assad. Free syrian army says it captured five iranian soldiers duration. Fake video of syrian army deserters is spreading online. A number of them have joined the free syrian army fsa, a group of thousands of members, most of whom have defected from the countrys security forces in order to protect civilians. They said they were members of the free syrian army, the loose alliance of fighters mainly defectors from the regimes army who have picked up. The opposition is made up of volunteer militias from across syria and the. Defectors from the free syrian army, whose leaders are based in exile in neighboring turkey, fired a rocketpropelled grenade at a bus carrying policemen into the town of busra alharir, killing.
Aug 06, 20 the terrorist groups and socalled organizations as the syrian alqaeda offshoot branch in syria normally lead the war against the syrian arab army saa and the secular government, including the syrian president alassad, in the capital damascus because they are better trained and organized than the other criminal groups, consisting either. Free syrian army rebels defect to islamist group jabhat al. Syrian defectors watch civil war from the sidelines former officers of assads military sit in a camp in turkey, growing out of shape and embittered. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle. In the context of the syrian conflict, politically motivated defections have.
Free syrian army defectors collaborate with syrian army. Syrian soldiers defect to fight against government youtube. Syrian soldiers defect to fight against government al jazeera english. Absolutely theyre identical twins and work hand in hand to achieve the same goal. The widespread insecurity and poverty has caused a rise in syrian mothers marrying off their. Nov 16, 2011 the attacks by the free syrian army come two days after defectors killed 34 soldiers and members of the security in the southern province of daraa, on what was one of the bloodiest days of the 8. Some members of the free syrian army have stated that the organization does not have the resources to occupy and take control of territories, and instead relies primarily on hit and run attacks to prompt the syrian army into withdrawing. In february 2012, he was fighting with the farouq brigade, and they tried, and. Syrian defectors watch civil war from the sidelines wsj. From this moment, the heroic turkish armed forces have launched an air operation to destroy the pydpkk and daesh elements in afrin, yildirim announced. General mustafa alsheikhs defection in december 2011 was the first serious. Defectors kill 27 syrian soldiers, police cbs news. Warning thread graphic execution of bound youtube blogger by free syrian army might contain content that is not suitable for all ages.
The free syrian army began with a core group of senior officers who defected from the syrian army and recruited thousands of soldiers and civilians. Syrian army colonel defects, forms free syrian army, asharq al. Oct 28, 2011 october 27, 2011 turkeys support of the free syrian army, an armed opposition group, comes amid a broader turkish campaign to undermine president bashar alassads government in syria. Though the free syrian army a group of mainly army defectors whose commanders are based in turkey claimed to have staged most of the recent attacks, some. He took up arms against the regime, one of the first to join a new organisation called the free syrian army fsa. John cantlie photographs the rebels of the free syrian army in and around aleppo during the government advance in the area. Jun 29, 2016 absolutely theyre identical twins and work hand in hand to achieve the same goal. Oct 01, 2015 the free syrian army, which at one point was the main fighting force against assads regime, is a collection of smaller government opposition groups which were brought together at the beginning. Turkish jets, free syrian army launch offensive on kurdish.
A year later he deserted finding work at a fastfood restaurant in aleppo. The name free syrian army or fsa is often tossed about as a group of moderates or seculars the us should support in trying to overthrow assad. Us death toll tops 70,000 as new york fatalities top 20,000 as it happened. Diplomatic and security officials testified on the syrian refugee crisis in which 2. March 20 elizabeth obagy middle east security report.
Initially established with the grand objective of representing a nationwide resistance organization. In the first day, they took control of jarabulus from isil. Facetoface with abu sakkar, syrias hearteating cannibal. Mar 20, 2018 burning down civilian with napalm, poisoning them chlorine and sarin gases. Nowhere is this more apparent than in aleppo, syrias largest city where many fsa soldiers are leaving the group, citing. Subscribe to our channel many syrian civilians are taking up arms to defend themselves from the governments 10. Emre peker and donna abunasr, syrian armed forces desertion said to surge to 60,000, bloomberg, march 15, 2012. The hearing, the syrian refugee crisis, began with a video to provide background. Syrian filmmaker firas, now living in germany, uses youtube and comedy to break down barriers between germans and refugees. Aleppo, syria in 2012, mohammad matoh joined the free syrian army. The free syrian army reportedly recruits young men in the camp to return home and take up arms. As of early 2017 there were some 15,00 fighters loyal to the fsa, according to estimates. The number of defected soldiers who defended the town was more than. Recent video evidence of free syrian army defectors c.
The armed rebellion against assad was first organized by army defectors who in summer 2011 set up the free syrian army. Dec, 20 the free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army deserters based in turkey, led by col riad alasaad. Turkey shelters antiassad group, the free syrian army. Syria is no longer sliding into war or staring at the abyss of warfare. In late 2011, it was considered the main syrian military defectors group. Its baseless to say the fsa is a group of defected syrian troops, thats only for western masses to buy. In the northeastern part of syria contiguous to iraq and turkey lies alhasaka or the triangle, also known as aljazeera province as large as lebanon, this area is inhabited by roughly four million kurds, one million christians and a half million arabs. Syria army defectors attack assads military cbs news. Browse the independents complete collection of articles and commentary on free syrian army.
Six weeks ago, a twoman delegation arrived in secret in damascus. Salafis avoid youtube altogether, preferring to download or stream mp3. Apr 11, 2012 john cantlie photographs the rebels of the free syrian army in and around aleppo during the government advance in the area. Antiamericanism spreads in syrian refugee camps the. Faces of the free syrian army war is boring medium. Defected soldiers formed free syrian army antigovernment forces in syria known as the free syrian army have gained ground against the regime of. Unbelievable helicopter escape from vietnam youtube. The turkishbacked free syrian army tfsas first known engagement was a joint operation with the turkish armed forces. Free syrian army defectors collaborate with syrian army youtube.
As syrian president bashar al assads hold on western parts of syria solidifies, the cia. The free syrian army institute for the study of war. October 27, 2011 turkeys support of the free syrian army, an armed opposition group, comes amid a broader turkish campaign to undermine president bashar alassads government in syria. Its banner was soon adopted by armed groups that began appearing across the country. Turkey shelters antiassad group, the free syrian army the.
The free syrian army is an army formed in 2011 to oppose the syrian government during the civil war. It was the great hope of the rebels, who believed that with sufficient funding and weapons from arab and western states it could bring down bashar assads army. Free war stock video footage licensed under creative commons, open source, and more. The syrian government forces, jointly with the free syrian army, has repelled a spate of alnusra front attacks in the countrys southern deescalation zone, according to a saturday russian defense ministry announcement. Free syrian army decimated by desertions news al jazeera. Two isis commanders on friday joined forces with the free syrian army stationed on the border between syrias homs and deir ezzor provinces. Defecting troops form free syrian army, target assad security forces. Dec 16, 2011 though the free syrian army a group of mainly army defectors whose commanders are based in turkey claimed to have staged most of the recent attacks, some activists and american officials.
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