Fahim Issa
{{Short description|Syrian military officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Fahim Issa
| native_name = {{nobold|فهيم عيسى}}
{{nobold|Fehim İsa}}
| image =
| birth_place = Tal al-Hawa, Aleppo, Syria
| allegiance =
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg}} Syrian opposition (2011–2024)
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg}} Syrian National Army (until 2025)
- {{flagicon|Syria}} Syria (from 2025)
| rank = Brigadier General
| office = Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region
| president = Ahmed al-Sharaa
| minister = Murhaf Abu Qasra
| term_start = 12 April 2025
| term_end =
| battles = {{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
}}
Fahim Issa ({{langx|ar|فهيم عيسى}}, {{langx|tr|Fehim İsa}}) is a Syrian military officer serving as the Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region since April 2025. He was a prominent figure in the Syrian National Army and previously held several leadership positions within Syrian opposition forces.
Early life and background
Issa was born in the village of Tal al-Hawa, near the town of Al-Rai in northeastern Aleppo Governorate, an area with a predominantly Syrian Turkmen population. He himself is a Turkmen.{{cite news |title="أكثر المقربين من تركيا".. ماذا تعرف عن نائب وزير الدفاع السوري فهيم عيسى؟ |trans-title="One of Turkey’s Closest Allies".. What Do You Know About Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense Fahim Issa? |url=https://npasyria.com/210330/ |website=North Press Agency |lang=ar |date=13 April 2025 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414201941/https://npasyria.com/210330/ |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
He started his career as a cobbler in Aleppo city, before later getting involved in armed conflict.{{cite news |title="فهيم عيسى" من إسكافي في أحياء حلب الشرقية.. إلى أقوى ذراع لأنقرة في الشمال السوري |trans-title=“Fahim Issa”: From a cobbler in the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo to Ankara’s strongest arm in northern Syria |url=https://afrinpost.net/ar/archives/11457 |website=Afrin Post |lang=ar |date=31 October 2020 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414224753/https://afrinpost.net/ar/archives/11457 |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
Syrian civil war
With the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Issa joined the armed opposition and played a central role in the establishment of the Sultan Murad Division, a faction primarily composed of Syrian Turkmen fighters. He commanded the division in various battles, including engagements against the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Assad regime, and the Islamic State (ISIL). He also participated in Turkish-backed military operations such as Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, and Operation Peace Spring.{{cite news |title=ما المنصب الذي تقلّده فهيم عيسى في وزارة الدفاع السورية؟ |trans-title=What Position Did Fahim Issa Assume in the Syrian Ministry of Defense? |url=https://www.syria.tv/ما-المنصب-الذي-تقلّده-فهيم-عيسى-في-وزارة-الدفاع-السورية؟?amp |website=Syria TV |lang=ar |date=13 April 2025 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414202819/https://www.syria.tv/%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D9%91%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%89-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9%D8%9F?amp |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
In 2022, Issa was appointed commander of the Second Corps of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, following his leadership of the unified military structure Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation, which was formed through the merger of several factions.{{cite news |title=عودة الحلف القديم وتفعيل قرارات اجتماع تركيا.. فهيم عيسى قائداً للفيلق الثاني |trans-title=Return of the Old Alliance and Activation of Turkey Meeting Decisions: Fahim Issa Appointed Commander of the Second Corps |url=https://www.syria.tv/عودة-الحلف-القديم-وتفعيل-قرارات-اجتماع-تركيا-فهيم-عيسى-قائداً-للفيلق-الثاني |website=Syria TV |lang=ar |date=13 November 2022 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414203434/https://www.syria.tv/%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%89-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}} Prior to this, he served as deputy commander of the Azm Operations Room, established the previous year.
Issa was widely regarded as the closest ally of Mohammed al-Jassem (Abu Amsha), then-leader of the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, and intervened in his defense during al-Jassem’s detention by the Azm Operations Room on charges of corruption.
He was also described as one of Turkey’s most trusted figures in Syria, contributing significantly to the deployment of fighters to both Libya and Azerbaijan, in support of Turkish military operations during their involvement in Liby and their support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He was reportedly also responsible for sending fighters to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria in Western Africa.{{cite news |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/05/turkey-recruits-syrians-to-fight-in-africa-under-supervision-of-sultan-murad-division/ |title=Turkey recruits Syrians to fight in Africa under supervision of Sultan Murad Division |website=Enab Baladi |date=13 May 2024 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414232120/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/05/turkey-recruits-syrians-to-fight-in-africa-under-supervision-of-sultan-murad-division/amp/ |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
In 2023, as commander of the Second Corps, Issa led an offensive against Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), though the campaign did not achieve its objectives, which subsequently diminished his public visibility.{{cite news |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/311784/ |title=Death toll update: Five casualties among HTS-backed Ahrar Awlan Faction in clashes with "Al-Sultan Murad" in Aleppo |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |date=24 September 2023 |access-date=15 April 2025}}
In November 2024, an HTS-led coalition launched Operation Deterrence of Aggression against the forces of Bashar al-Assad, culminating in the collapse of his regime on 8 December 2024. Shortly after the operation began, the Syrian National Army initiated Operation Dawn of Freedom,{{cite web |title="الحكومة المؤقتة" تطلق عملية ضد النظام و"قسد" |trans-title=“Interim Government” launches operation against the regime and "SDF" |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/726470/الحكومة-المؤقتة-تطلق-عملية-ضد-النظام/# |website=Enab Baladi |lang=ar |date=30 November 2024 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414222140/https://www.enabbaladi.net/726470/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85/%23 |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}} during which Issa served as a commander within the Sultan Murad Division.
Government role
On 12 April 2025, Issa was appointed Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region under Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. His role focuses on military and administrative affairs in northern Syria amidst a wide restructuring effort in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime.
Controversies
Prisons operated by the Sultan Murad Division under Issa's leadership were reportedly associated with serious allegations, including psychological and physical abuse, death threats, and incidents of sexual violence.{{cite web |url=https://www.syriahr.com/سجون-فرقة-السلطان-مراد-ضرب-وانتهاكات/338766/ |title=سجون "فرقة السلطان مراد"…ضرب وانتهاكات ضد كل المكونات وتدليل لعناصر "الدولة الإسلامية" واعتداءات على النساء، المرصد السوري يواصل كشف حقيقة الأوضاع داخل مناطق سيطرة الفصيل الموالي لتركيا |trans-title=Sultan Murad Division’s prisons... Beatings and abuses against all communities, preferential treatment for Islamic State members, and assaults on women — the Syrian Observatory continues exposing the reality inside the areas under the pro-Turkey group’s control |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=22 September 2019 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926224213/https://www.syriahr.com/سجون-فرقة-السلطان-مراد-ضرب-وانتهاكات/338766/ |archive-date=26 September 2020 |url-status=live}} The Division was also reportedly known to recruit and deploy child soldiers.{{cite web |url=https://www.counterextremism.com/armed-opposition-groups-nw-syria/sultan-murad-division |title=Sultan Murad Division |website=Counter Extremism Project |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608012654/https://www.counterextremism.com/armed-opposition-groups-nw-syria/sultan-murad-division |archive-date=8 June 2023 |url-status=live}}
In 2021, Issa posted on Twitter expressing support for the "Turkification" of Syria, envisioning a future in which a free Syria would be Turkish-speaking and join the Organization of Turkic States.{{cite news |title=منافساً أبو عمشة.. فهيم عيسى يدعو لتتريك سوريا |trans-title=Competing with Abu Amsha. Fahim Issa calls for the Turkification of Syria |url=https://snacksyrian.com/منافساً-أبو-عمشة-فهيم-عيسى-يدعو-لتتري/ |website=Syrian Snack |lang=ar |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414223523/https://snacksyrian.com/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%8A/ |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
In March 2024, Issa took part in a rally held in Al-Rai commemorating the thirteenth anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian revolution. During the event, he held a sign directed at Ahmed al-Sharaa (then known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani), the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that read: "Hey Julani, we do not want you—neither you nor your master Bashar". The stance came at a time when demonstrations were taking place in northwestern Syria (territory then controlled by HTS) demanding the resignation of al-Julani.{{cite web |title=سجال وردود.. فهيم عيسى يظهر بعد غياب مطالباً بإسقاط الجولاني (فيديو) |trans-title=Debate and reactions: Fahim Issa reappears after absence, calls for the overthrow of al-Julani (video) |url=https://www.syria.tv/سجال-وردود-فهيم-عيسى-يظهر-بعد-غياب-مطالباً-بإسقاط-الجولاني-فيديو |website=Syria TV |lang=ar |date=17 March 2024 |access-date=14 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250414221100/https://www.syria.tv/%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88 |archive-date=14 April 2025 |url-status=live}} The image of Issa holding the sign later resurfaced and generated controversy after his appearance at the Presidential Palace in Damascus during the Revolution Victory Conference in January 2025.