Junud al-Sham (Soldiers of the Levant), sometimes also called Jund al-Sham,[3] is a group of Chechen and Lebanese Sunni mujahideen that fight in the Syrian Civil War and were led by Muslim Abu Walid al Shishani until his death in 2021. Abu Turab Shishani as deputy leader has led the group since.
Unlike many other foreign mujahideen, Junud al-Sham remained mostly independent from other Syrian rebel groups. Many of its fighters defected to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant commander Abu Omar al-Shishani in 2014. The remainder of the group remained combat-ready, and continued to take part in military operations in 2015.[3] Financial difficulties caused a further decline, however, and some sources claimed that it was reduced to merely 30 fighters by early 2016.[6] Many of its members had reportedly left in order to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In a video address, Muslim Shishani consequently reproached other insurgent groups in Syria for not providing assistance, which regional expert Joanna Paraszczuk described as a "rant".[6][9] In September 2016, Junud al-Sham travelled to Hama Governorate in order to fight in a local rebel offensive.[10] Later that year, there were reports according to which the group had dissolved, reportedly as result of clashes with Ahrar al-Sham,[11] with many of its Chechen fighters reportedly joining Ajnad al-Kavkaz.[12]
Despite these reports, however, other reports suggested remnants of Junud al-Sham were still active by 2018. In January 2018, pro-government media reported that "a military source in Damascus" said the group took part in a major military campaign against the government in northwestern Syria.[13] Meanwhile, the Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit claimed he was participating in the Turkish military operation in Afrin.[14] However, Shishani denied that he or his followers were in Afrin, and confirmed he was in Hama, fighting alongside another Chechen militia, Tarkhan Gaziyev's Katiba Abd Ar-Rahman.[15] A German foreign fighter with the group named Abu Khalid al-Shami said in an interview from 22 July 2019 that the group clashed with ISIL in Abu Dali.[16]
^ ab"Split Among North Caucasian Fighters in Syria". The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
^. Conflict News. 15 August 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017.
^ abcdeMairbek Vatchagaev (1 October 2015). "Is Moscow Set to Target Russians Fighting Against Assad in Syria?". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
^ ab"Syrian opposition groups fail to capture Aleppo prison". Al Monitor. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
^ abc"Chechen al Qaeda commander, popular Saudi cleric, and an Ahrar al Sham leader spotted on front lines in Latakia". Long War Journal. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
^ abcJoanna Paraszczuk (12 January 2016). "Muslim Shishani makes video address about situation in Latakia". From Chechnya to Syria. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^"GUEST POST: The 4 Chechen Brigades In Jamaat Ahadun Ahad". From Chechnya To Syria. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
^Weiss, Caleb (23 April 2015). "Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria involved in new Idlib offensive". Long War Journal.
^"Chechens Fighting in Syria Increasingly Joining Forces With Islamic State". Jamestown Foundation. 3 March 2016.
^Fadel, Leith (14 September 2016). . Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
^"Der Syrische Bürgerkrieg - Update 19 04 2017". Truppendienst.com (Austrian Armed Forces) (in German). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
^Rao Komar (19 November 2016). "Most Chechens left and joined Ajnad al-Kavkaz. Junud leader Muslim Shishani has not joined another group and is not fighting currently". Retrieved 10 May 2017.
^Leith Aboufadel (26 January 2018). . al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^. yeniakit (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
^Joanna Paraszczuk (29 January 2018). "Tarkhan's jamaat (Katiba abd ar-Rahman) fighting in Hama alongside Muslim Shishani". From Chechnya to Syria. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (8 September 2019). "A German Muhajir in al-Sham: Interview". Retrieved 26 September 2020.
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Not to be confused with Jund al Sham Junud al Sham Soldiers of the Levant sometimes also called Jund al Sham 3 is a group of Chechen and Lebanese Sunni mujahideen that fight in the Syrian Civil War and were led by Muslim Abu Walid al Shishani until his death in 2021 Abu Turab Shishani as deputy leader has led the group since Junud al Shamجنود الشامLogo of Junud al ShamLeadersAbu Turab ShishaniMuslim Abu Walid al Shishani 1 Dates of operation2012 presentGroup s Liwaa Usud al Idlam Artillery and Infantry Battalion former 2 HeadquartersJisr al Shughur 3 Active regionsSyria Aleppo Governorate 4 Latakia Governorate 5 3 Idlib Governorate 3 Hama GovernorateIdeologySunni IslamismSalafi movementSize30 2016 estimate 6 AlliesAhrar al Sham 5 Tahrir al Sham 1 Group of the One and Only 7 Opponents Syria Iran Russia Syrian Resistance Hezbollah Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 2017 2018 Tahrir al Sham sometimes Battles and warsSyrian Civil War Battle of Aleppo 4 2014 Latakia offensive 5 Northwestern Syria offensive April June 2015 8 Northwestern Syria offensive October 2015 2016 Hama offensive Northwestern Syria campaign October 2017 February 2018 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editUnlike many other foreign mujahideen Junud al Sham remained mostly independent from other Syrian rebel groups Many of its fighters defected to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant commander Abu Omar al Shishani in 2014 The remainder of the group remained combat ready and continued to take part in military operations in 2015 3 Financial difficulties caused a further decline however and some sources claimed that it was reduced to merely 30 fighters by early 2016 6 Many of its members had reportedly left in order to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant In a video address Muslim Shishani consequently reproached other insurgent groups in Syria for not providing assistance which regional expert Joanna Paraszczuk described as a rant 6 9 In September 2016 Junud al Sham travelled to Hama Governorate in order to fight in a local rebel offensive 10 Later that year there were reports according to which the group had dissolved reportedly as result of clashes with Ahrar al Sham 11 with many of its Chechen fighters reportedly joining Ajnad al Kavkaz 12 Despite these reports however other reports suggested remnants of Junud al Sham were still active by 2018 In January 2018 pro government media reported that a military source in Damascus said the group took part in a major military campaign against the government in northwestern Syria 13 Meanwhile the Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit claimed he was participating in the Turkish military operation in Afrin 14 However Shishani denied that he or his followers were in Afrin and confirmed he was in Hama fighting alongside another Chechen militia Tarkhan Gaziyev s Katiba Abd Ar Rahman 15 A German foreign fighter with the group named Abu Khalid al Shami said in an interview from 22 July 2019 that the group clashed with ISIL in Abu Dali 16 See also editList of armed groups in the Syrian Civil WarReferences edit a b Split Among North Caucasian Fighters in Syria The Central Asia Caucasus Analyst 2 July 2014 Retrieved 2 November 2014 Jaish al Hama regional rebel merger pledges allegiance to Hayat Tahrir al Sham Conflict News 15 August 2017 Archived from the original on 19 October 2017 a b c d e Mairbek Vatchagaev 1 October 2015 Is Moscow Set to Target Russians Fighting Against Assad in Syria Jamestown Foundation Retrieved 4 September 2018 a b Syrian opposition groups fail to capture Aleppo prison Al Monitor 2 February 2014 Retrieved 6 September 2014 a b c Chechen al Qaeda commander popular Saudi cleric and an Ahrar al Sham leader spotted on front lines in Latakia Long War Journal 27 March 2014 Retrieved 6 September 2014 a b c Joanna Paraszczuk 12 January 2016 Muslim Shishani makes video address about situation in Latakia From Chechnya to Syria Retrieved 3 February 2018 GUEST POST The 4 Chechen Brigades In Jamaat Ahadun Ahad From Chechnya To Syria 16 August 2014 Retrieved 12 September 2014 Weiss Caleb 23 April 2015 Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria involved in new Idlib offensive Long War Journal Chechens Fighting in Syria Increasingly Joining Forces With Islamic State Jamestown Foundation 3 March 2016 Fadel Leith 14 September 2016 Chechen jihadist group joins rebels in northern Hama Al Masdar News Archived from the original on 15 September 2016 Retrieved 14 September 2016 Der Syrische Burgerkrieg Update 19 04 2017 Truppendienst com Austrian Armed Forces in German 27 April 2017 Retrieved 18 March 2017 Rao Komar 19 November 2016 Most Chechens left and joined Ajnad al Kavkaz Junud leader Muslim Shishani has not joined another group and is not fighting currently Retrieved 10 May 2017 Leith Aboufadel 26 January 2018 Al Qaeda linked Chechen group and infamous commander head to southern Idlib to fight Syrian Army al Masdar News Archived from the original on 4 February 2018 Retrieved 3 February 2018 Unlu Cecen komutan Zeytin Dali operasyonuna katildi yeniakit in Turkish Archived from the original on 1 February 2018 Retrieved 1 February 2018 Joanna Paraszczuk 29 January 2018 Tarkhan s jamaat Katiba abd ar Rahman fighting in Hama alongside Muslim Shishani From Chechnya to Syria Retrieved 3 February 2018 Aymenn Jawad Al Tamimi 8 September 2019 A German Muhajir in al Sham Interview Retrieved 26 September 2020 External links editJunud al Sham s YouTube Channelthe Syrian Civil War at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp News from Wikinews Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Junud al Sham amp oldid 1143343567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
