Syria’s Rebel Coalition: A Complex Ecosystem of Islamist and Moderates
Syria’s rebel coalition is a confederation of Islamist and moderate factions united in their determination to overthrow the Assad regime, defeat ISIS, and counter Iran-backed militias. Despite their differences, they share a common goal against their common enemies.
Forming the coalition are organizations such as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), the former al-Qaeda affiliate led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which receives funding from Turkey. The FSA incorporates dozens of factions, including the National Liberation Front, which aimed to establish an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. Ahrar al-Sham, a faction from the National Liberation Front, has stated its goal as overthrowing the Assad regime and establishing an Islamic state.
Complicating this complex landscape is the fact that some rebel group members are also fighting with Kurdish forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, comprising largely of the armed wing of the Democratic Unity Party, are considered to be a terrorist organization by Turkey. The Turkish-back Free Syrian Army has asserted control over territories previously occupied by the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern Aleppo governate.
In the city of as-Suwayda, representatives of the Druze religious minority have joined forces, fighting alongside opposition opposition forces in the southern and western parts of the Golan Heights.