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Ahl al-Sham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ahl Al-Sham (Arabic: غرفة أهل الشام) was a joint command structure and umbrella organization of four main Syrian opposition factions operating in Aleppo, Syria. The factions are:
- Syria's largest rebel group, the Islamic Front
- the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front
- the foreign Russian-speaking jihadist group Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar
- and the anti-ISIL coalition, the Army of Mujahedeen.[4]
The group has held talks with the People's Protection Units and Jabhat al-Akrad; they have agreed to a truce in order to focus on fighting the Assad government.[5]
The groups involved in the structure are perceived differently by the United States; while Al-Nusra Front and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar are designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.[6][7] In contrast Islamic Front is considered by the United States as a "moderate" fighting force and the Army of Mujahedeen is being vetted by them to receive support.[8][9]
In late October 2014, the al-Nusra Front began attacking cities held by the Free Syrian Army and other moderate Islamist groups, in an attempt to establish its own Islamic state with imposed Sharia rule.[10]
In December 2014, the Levant Front coalition was established, possibly superseding Ahl al-Sham.[11] It includes the Islamic Front and the Army of Mujahideen but excludes al-Nusra and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar. The Aleppo Liberation operations room was established in February 2015; it includes Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar as part of the Jabhat Ansar al-Din.[2]
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Historic uses of this term
The name ahl al sham is also used in the context of an anti-umayyad opposition of early medieval arabic tribes in the year 750. This coalition later formed the fundament of power for the abbasid caliphate.[12]
See also
References
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