Active 2016–present Headquarters Azaz Strength 600 (2016) | Leaders Mahmoud Abu Hamza Area of operations Aleppo Governorate | |
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Ideology Syrian nationalism
Islamic democracy | ||
The Descendants of Saladin Brigade (Arabic: لواء أحفاد صلاح الدين; Liwa Ahfad Saladin), is a Free Syrian Army group active in the northern Aleppo Governorate. The group is supported by Turkey and armed by the United States. The group opposes the Syrian government, the Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the People's Protection Units and including the Army of Revolutionaries (rebels).
Contents
Named after the Kurdish founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, Saladin, the group claims to have 600 members, primarily Kurdish, with one third of its fighters being Arabs and Syrian Turkmen, in addition to one Christian and one Alawite fighter. They along with the Dhi Qar Brigade are a part of the Division 99. Although Dhi Qar later left to join the Hamza Division.
Liwa Ahfad Saladin members are described as "gangs" by the pro-SDF newspapers.
Ideology
The group opposes the Federation of Northern Syria declared by the Syrian Democratic Forces and claims not to be secular, instead supporting civil democracy with equal rights for all ethnicities. It also claim the Democratic Union Party to be a proxy of the Syrian government.
History
In March 2016 Ahrar ash-Sham ordered the group to take down the flag of Iraqi Kurdistan from its headquarters and threatened military force. However, Liwa Ahfad Saladin's commander denied the incident ever occurred and claimed Ahrar ash-Sham to be its ally.