Jaych al-Charkiya
| Jaysh al-Sharqiya | |
|---|---|
| جيش الشرقية | |
Logo of Jaysh al-Sharqiya | |
| Military leader | Hussein Hamadi |
| Dates of operation | 23 November 2017 - present |
| Country | Syria |
| Motives | Overthrow of the Baathist regime of Bashar al-Assad |
| Active regions | Aleppo Governorate |
| Ideology | Sunni Islam Salafism[1] |
| Status | Active |
| Size | ~1,000 militants |
| Part of | Free Syrian Army[2] Syrian National Army |
| Battles and wars | |
Jaysh al-Sharqiya (Arabic: جيش الشرقية, English: Army of the East) is a rebel group that was formed in 2017 during the Syrian Civil War. The group is active in the Aleppo Governorate.
History
Jaysh al-Sharqiya announced its formation through a press release on 23 November 2017. It is made up of fighters from eastern Syria, from the governorates of Deir ez-Zor, Al-Hasakah and Raqqa, but was expelled from these territories by the Islamic State in 2014. Its commander is Hussein Hamadi. Shortly after the group's formation, it declared having 1,000 men under its command, from fifteen separate factions. Some fighters come from Ahrar al-Sharqiya, Ahrar al-Sham and the Authenticity and Development Front.[1][3]
Supported by Turkey, which notably supplied it with armored personnel carriers, Jaysh al-Sharqiya was integrated into the Syrian National Army and participated in the Battle of Afrin in early 2018, where it fought on the Jindires front to the south. After the battle, the group remained based in this region. Like many other rebel groups in Afrin, Jaysh al-Sharqiya has been accused of several kidnappings and attacks against the Kurds in the region.[1][3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Alexander McKeever (15 June 2019). "Remnants Of The Deiri Opposition: Contention And Controversy In North Aleppo". Bellingcat. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "THE SNA ENCYCLOPEDIA: A GUIDE TO THE TURKISH PROXY MILITIAS" (PDF). Rojava information center. August 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Syrian Rebel Brigades Participating in the Operation Olive Branch [18 January 2018]". Suriye Gündemi. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2025.