Syrian National Army

Syrian National Army
الجيش الوطني السوري
LeaderSalem al-Meslet
Dates of operation2017-Present
Allegiance Syrian Interim Government
HeadquartersAzaz, Aleppo Governorate
Active regionsNorthern Syria
Allies Turkey

 Qatar
 Ahrar al-Sham

 Azerbaijan
Opponents Ba'athist Syria

 ISIL
 Armenia
 Russia

 Iran
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War
  • Operation Olive Branch
  • Siege of Northern Homs
  • 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
  • 2019 Tell Rifaat clashes
  • Idlib Governorate clashes (January 2019)
  • Operation Euphrates Shield

Libyan Civil War (2014–2020)

  • 2019–20 Western Libya campaign
  • 2020 Central Libya campaign
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
Designated as a terrorist group byFlag of Iran Iran
Flag of Syria Syria

The Syrian National Army (SNA; Arabic: الجيش الوطني السوري, romanized: al-Jaysh al-Waṭanī as-Sūrī), also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA), is a coalition of armed Syrian opposition groups that participate in the Syrian 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 of Turkey, who provides funding, training, and military support. The Syrian National Army is active in the far northern regions of Syria where it mostly combats Kurdish forces as well as ISIS and to a lesser extent, Syrian government forces and their allies. Backed by the Turkish military, they captured the Afrin region from the Kurdish YPG forces of Rojava.

Relations with Free Syrian Army

The Syrian National Army used to be the Free Syrian Army, a loose faction made of defectors from the Syrian Arab Army after 2011 crackdowns. The FSA still exists, but a lot of members have now moved to the newer, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition group known as the Syrian National Army.

Free Syrian Army

The Free Syrian Army is a loose faction formed in 2011, made of mostly defectors from the Syrian Arab Armed Forces. The group was officially formed on the 29th of July, 2011. It was formed by seven Syrian military officers. The FSA has condemned Al-Assad's 2011 protest crackdown. Many of its members have now joined the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army or other opposition groups.

Organization

First Legion

Second Legion

Third Legion

Citation for all the above.

Notes

  1. ↑ Arabic: الجيش السوري الحر المدعوم من تركيا

References

  1. ↑ "Syrian Opposition Factions in the Syrian Civil War". Bellingcat. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "300 pro-Turkey Syrian rebels sent to Libya to support UN-backed gov't: watchdog". Xinhauet. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Turkey deploying Syrian fighters to help ally Azerbaijan, two fighters say". Reuters Staff. Reuters. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Syrian National Army: Rebels, thugs or Turkish proxies?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Syria war: Turkish-led forces oust Kurdish fighters from heart of Afrin". BBC. 18 March 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Kurdish politician and 10 others killed by 'Turkish-backed militia' in Syria, SDF claims". CNN. 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "Profit, necessity spur trade across conflict lines in north Aleppo". CNN. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Turkey's Gradual Efforts to Professionalize Syrian Allies". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Syrian National Army (SNA)". Global Security.
  10. ↑ "Free Syrian Army Founded by Seven Officers to Fight the Syrian Army". Joshulandis.
  11. ↑ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "The Structure of the Syrian National Army". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.