Islamic Resistance Front in Syria
 |
| Islamic Resistance Front in Syria (IRFS) | |
|---|---|
| جبهة المقاومة الإسلامية في سوريا | |
 | |
| Dates of operation | December 17, 2024 – present |
| Country |  Syria |
| Allegiance |  Ba'athist Syria |
| Ideology | Anti-Zionism Anti-Syrian government Shia Islamism Sunni Islamism |
| Allies |  Iran[1] Hezbollah Syrian Popular Resistance |
| Opponents |  Israel Turkey Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Syria |
The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria (IRFS; Arabic: جبهة المقاومة الإسلامية في سوريا, romanized: Jabhat al-muqāwamah al-Islāmīyah fī Sūriyā), also known as Brave People - Islamic Resistance Front In Syria (Arabic: الشعب الشجاع - جبهة المقاومة الإسلامية في سوريا, romanized: Alshaeb Alshujae - Jabhat Almuqawamat Al'iislamiat fi Suria),[2] previously known as the Southern Liberation Front (Arabic: جبهة تحرير الجنوب, romanized: Jabhat taḥrīr al-Janūb), is a militant organization established in response to the fall of the Assad regime and the ongoing Israeli invasion of Syria.
History
[edit]The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria was established on December 17, 2024 as the Southern Liberation Front with the goal of it, according to a statement released by the organization, to protect the Syrian people and push Israel out of Syrian territory,[3] the statement described it as a grassroots Syrian organization established in response to the new Syrian government’s silence and inaction regarding Israel, referred to in the statement as “the Israeli enemy” and “the Israeli occupation.” It also stressed that the organization has no affiliation with any state, sect, or party, either within Syria or abroad.[4][5]
The commander of IRFS claimed that the group's formation was spurred by the "ongoing attempts at division, starvation, displacement, arrests, and systematic killings" during the Israeli invasion of Syria.[6]
On January 9, the group started calling themselves Tahrir al-Janoub (JTJ), or the Southern Liberation Front (SLF). The group announced their formation on their official Telegram channel where they claimed that their formation is a response against "Israeli occupation’s advance into our lands in southern Syria—specifically in the governorates of Quneitra, Daraa, and the western countryside of Damascus".[7]
The name Southern Liberation Front was changed to the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria on January 11, 2025.[8] According to the group, they changed their name “due to the existence of multiple fronts with the same name”. The group's logo and their declared objectives were also changed.[7]
Combat operations
[edit]On January 9, 2025, the Southern Liberation Front gave Israel 48 hours to withdraw all Israeli troops from the buffer zone near the Golan Heights.[9] The group claimed a few days later that it was monitoring and preparing to attack the IDF in southern Syria.[4]
On January 26, 2025, The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria claimed responsibility for taking down a drone belonging to the Israel Defense Force in Southern Syria in their first official operation against them.[10]
On January 31, 2025, the group claimed that it had attacked the Israeli military in the village of Taranja, Quneitra. But no evidence of the attack was provided, and the group later denied that the incident had taken place in a post on Telegram.[7]
On February 3, IDF opened fire on an armed group of men in Golan Heights, no injuries from IDF were reported. On the same day, Syrian media claimed that the armed groups fired at IDF soldiers near the village of Turnejeh, Quneitra. Islamic Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for this attack.[11][12]
On February 27, the IRFS began forming military cells in Southern Syria, likely with Iranian backing.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Al-Tahami, Ashraf (2025-01-16). "تقرير عبرى يزعم وجود تهديد محتمل جديد فى سوريا بدعم إيراني" تقرير عبرى يزعم وجود تهديد محتمل جديد فى سوريا بدعم إيراني [Hebrew report claims a new potential threat in Syria with Iranian support]. Bayan (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ عاطف, باسل (January 16, 2025). "تقرير عبرى يزعم وجود تهديد محتمل جديد فى سوريا بدعم إيراني". Bayan Gate (in Arabic). Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "مركز أبحاث إسرائيلي: تأسيس "جبهة المقاومة الإسلامية في سوريا" بدعم إيران وحزب الله" مركز أبحاث إسرائيلي: تأسيس "جبهة المقاومة الإسلامية في سوريا" بدعم إيران وحزب الله [Israeli Research Center: Establishment of the "Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" with the Support of Iran and Hezbollah]. Iran International (in Arabic). 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ a b Shapira, Boaz (2025-01-14). ""The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" – Is This a New Potential Threat to Israel?". Alma Research and Education Center. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "Islamic Resistance Front in Syria declares its existence". GünAz TV. 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ Hasanova, Tamilla (March 6, 2025). "What are the targets of Syria's new pro-Iranian armed front?". Caliber.
- ^ a b c "Uli al-Baas (Part 1): A New Islamic Resistance Front in Syria?". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. March 9, 2025.
- ^ Sela, Hadar (2025-01-17). "Weekend long read". Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "New Syrian Group, The South Liberation Front, Gives Israel 48-Hour Ultimatum To Withdraw From Syrian Territory: We Have 'Quality Weapons' From Previous Regime". Middle East Media Research Institute. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "'Formidable In Might – Islamic Resistance Front In Syria' Claims Downing Israeli Drone In First Operation Against Israeli Forces In Southern Syria". Middle East Media Research Institute. 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
- ^ Dasgupta, Victor (February 3, 2025). "Tension in Golan Heights after gunfire exchange between Israeli army and Assad-Backed Syrian groups, conflict likely to escalate". India.
- ^ "IDF opens fire on armed group in Syrian Golan, pro-Assad group claims responsibility". The Jerusalem Post. January 31, 2025.
- ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2025-03-14.