First Army (Syrian rebel group)

First Army
الجيش الأول
Jaysh al-Awal
LeadersCol. Saber Safar 
Dates of operation1 January – July 2015[1]
Group(s)
Active regionsDaraa Governorate
Quneitra Governorate[4]
Size5,000[6]-10,000[1]
Part ofFree Syrian Army
AlliesAl-Rahman Legion
Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union
Opponents
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War

The First Army was created on 1 January 2015 in an effort to unify rebel ranks in southern Syria. Three prominent rebel units merged under this command structure.[7]

History

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During the 2015 Southern Syria offensive, the commander of the 1st Army, Colonel Saber Safar, was killed in action.

On 13 April 2015, it joined a number of other Southern Front affiliates in condemning the al-Nusra Front's ideology and discontinuing all forms of cooperation with it.[8]

After the Daraa offensive (June–July 2015), the 1st Army disbanded and only the Hamza Division continues to use the name.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "More than 10.000 Free Syrian Army fighters announce the formation of the "First Army" in southern Syria". Shaam Times. 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Syria dissident groups still not united". Al Monitor. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  3. ^ احمد الجولاني (5 June 2016). "مميز// تشكيل فرقة سيف الجنوب في المنطقة الجنوبية بسوريا 5/6/2016" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b "3 Islamic brigades "al-Hamza brigade, the first artillery convoy, SRF" announced a full union and formed "the first army"". SOHR. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ^ share (2015-11-06). "Daraa / Southern Front - Announcement of the largest merger of combat brigades on the Horan Ground under the name "First Assembly" "التجمع الأول" Joining and Full integration into the ranks of the FSA 'First Army" Led by Colonel صابر سفر : syriancivilwar". Reddit.com. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  6. ^ "Moderate rebel factions unite in southern Syria". Asharq Al-Awsat. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Three important Free Syrian Army factions decided, at this 2015 new year, to create the First Army". SRO. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  8. ^ . Halab Today TV https://www.facebook.com/HalabTodayTV/posts/1124905374193566. Retrieved 14 April 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "The Moderate Rebels: A Growing List of Vetted Groups Fielding BGM-71 TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missiles". Hasan Mustafas. 5 August 2015.