Jaysh al-Izza

{{expand section|reason=Does not cover foundation of group|date=December 2024}}

The Army of Glory started under the name of the Martyrs of Latamneh Brigade at the beginning of 2012, then it turned into the Gathering of Glory/Union of Glory in 2013 and then the Army of Glory at the end of 2015, where many revolutionary brigades and battalions from multiple specializations joined the gathering, so the leadership decided to form an organized army and attract the largest number of officers who are good in leading battles who defected from Syria.{{Cite web |title=Jaysh al-Izza |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/jaysh-al-izza.htm |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}File:Army of Glory fighter launch a BGM-71 TOW missile.png anti-tank missile at a Syrian government position during the 2017 Hama offensive.]]

On 30 September 2015, the first day of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, 2 Russian bombs with 8-10 submunitions struck the group's headquarters and arms depots in a cave in the village of Al-Lataminah in northern Hama.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/10/1/russia-says-is-not-the-only-target-in-syria|title=Russia says IS not the only target in Syria|work=The New Arab|date=1 October 2015|access-date=9 July 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806161548/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/10/1/russia-says-is-not-the-only-target-in-syria|url-status=live}}

During the 2016 Hama offensive in September 2016, Jaysh al-Izza used a BGM-71 TOW missile to blow up a low-flying Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter, which they alleged to be Russian.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-helicopter-idUSKCN11829T|title=Syrian rebels destroy helicopter in Hama offensive-monitor, rebels|work=Reuters|date=2 September 2016|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001640/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-helicopter-idUSKCN11829T|url-status=live}}

In September 2018, Jaysh al-Izza originally accepted the Idlib demilitarization (2018–2019) brokered by Russia and Turkey, with the group's leadership extending their gratitude to the Turkish President Erdoğan for coordinating the agreement. The group later became hostile to the agreement, however, after it was revealed that Syrian Government and other pro-Assad forces would not be required to withdraw from the DMZ and would instead be responsible for governing the opposition-held areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180929-syria-rebel-faction-rejects-idlib-deal|title=Syria rebel faction rejects Idlib deal|date=29 August 2019|work=France24}}

On 8 June 2019 Abdel Baset al-Sarout, a senior Jaysh al-Izza commander and key member of the Syrian opposition, died from the wounds he sustained during combat with the Syrian Army two days prior.{{cite web |last1=Schmidmeier |first1=Fabian |title=Die syrische Revolution – Teil 1: Der Aktivist Abdel Basit as-Sarout |url=https://derorient.com/2015/12/05/syrien-wie-hat-sich-die-revolution-radikalisiert-der-aktivist-abdel-basit-as-sarout/ |website=Der Orient |date=5 December 2015 |access-date=8 June 2019 |archive-date=8 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608140458/https://derorient.com/2015/12/05/syrien-wie-hat-sich-die-revolution-radikalisiert-der-aktivist-abdel-basit-as-sarout/ |url-status=live }} Parts of the northern countryside of Hama were captured by the Syrian Arab Army during its 2019 Northwestern Syria offensive,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-northwest-idUSKCN1VD0P1|title=Syrian army captures Hama rebel pocket in northwest: state media|date=23 August 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829102311/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-northwest-idUSKCN1VD0P1|url-status=live}} after Jaysh al-Izza, among other rebel groups, withdrew from the region to avoid being encircled by government forces.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/?p=332825|title=Syrian Observatory: Armed factions withdraw from Khan Sheikhoun and Hama northern countryside|date=20 August 2019|website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}

On 11 August 2019, Jamil al-Saleh retired as commander-in-chief of the group, citing "personal matters." He was replaced by Col. Mustafa al-Bakour.{{Cite web|date=23 August 2019|title=قيادي سابق في المعارضة يحذر من مرحلة ثانية من معارك إدلب|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/322878|access-date=7 August 2020|website=عنب بلدي|language=ar|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828002352/https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/322878|url-status=live}} At some point Saleh returned to the group.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The group moved its headquarters to the Kafr Nabl area, which came under Russian attack on several occasions.{{Cite web|title=غارات جوية مصدرها قاعدة "حميميم" تستهدف مقراً لجيش العزة بإدلب وتوقع قتلى وجرحى في صفوفه|url=https://stepagency-sy.net/2019/11/23/%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%ac%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%af%d8%b1%d9%87%d8%a7-%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%af%d8%a9-%d8%ad%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=وكالة ستيب الإخبارية|language=ar|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915203537/https://stepagency-sy.net/2019/11/23/%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%ac%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%af%d8%b1%d9%87%d8%a7-%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%af%d8%a9-%d8%ad%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=عقب ساعات على افتتاح باب التطويع بصفوفه.. غارات روسية على مقر لجيش العزة جنوبي إدلب|url=https://stepagency-sy.net/2020/01/30/%d8%b9%d9%82%d8%a8-%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%ad-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%b7%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%b9-%d8%a8%d8%b5%d9%81%d9%88%d9%81/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=وكالة ستيب الإخبارية|language=ar|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129211450/https://stepagency-sy.net/2020/01/30/%D8%B9%D9%82%D8%A8-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81/|url-status=live}}

Jaysh al-Izza significantly declined and left in a state of disarray following defeat in the Syrian Army's Dawn of Idlib 1 campaign. The group lacked funding and military aid except for ammunition stores already available in Idlib and money received from supporters. It also suffered a decline in popularity with Syrian Opposition supporters due to a failure to comply with military determinants, and the group's perceived closer relations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.{{Cite web|last=وعالم|first=المدن-عرب|title=إدلب:المعارضة مربكة..و"جيش العزة"يدخل المعركة|url=https://www.almodon.com/arabworld/2020/1/25/إدلب-المعارضة-مربكة-وجيش-العزة-يدخل-المعركة|access-date=7 August 2020|website=almodon|language=ar}} The group also faced a rash of defections. On 9 October 2019, 500 fighters from Jaysh al-Izza, including its deputy commander-in-chief Capt. Manaf Maarati and spokesman Capt. Mustafa Maarati, reportedly defected to the National Front for Liberation. This reportedly left less than 500 soldiers in Jaysh al-Izza.{{Cite web|title=خاص لستيب{{!}}{{!}} انشقاق قياديان من الصف الأول بـ"جيش العزة" مع مئات العناصر، فما علاقة الأتراك!!|url=https://stepagency-sy.net/2019/10/11/%d8%ae%d8%a7%d8%b5-%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b4%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%88%d9%84/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=وكالة ستيب الإخبارية|language=ar|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917232245/https://stepagency-sy.net/2019/10/11/%d8%ae%d8%a7%d8%b5-%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b4%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%88%d9%84/|url-status=live}}

In early November 2019, the Homs al-Adiyyeh Brigade of the Sultan Murad Division of the Syrian National Army defected to Jaysh al-Izza after the unilateral release of several Syrian Army prisoners of war by the Turkish government in the context of the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=146076|title=The "free" handover of regime's prisoners and violations of the Turkey-loyal factions open doors of anger and resentment in the ranks of the "National Army," leaked recordings of members of "Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah": the blame is on the minister of defense and faction leaders, not Turkey, and mercenaries now steal their parents and consider it as spoils of war • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|date=2 November 2019|website=The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|access-date=3 November 2019|archive-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120155325/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=146076|url-status=live}}

On 23 November 2019, Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes on Jaysh al-Izza's headquarters near Kafr Nabl, killing two fighters and injuring six.

In late January 2020, Mustafa al-Bakour announced publicly his groups participation in the battle for Idlib, though Jaysh al-Izza had reportedly participated since the fighting began.

On 24 January 2020, Jaysh al-Izza's anti-armor squadron reportedly destroyed a missile launch platform of the Syrian army using an anti-tank thermal guided missile in the village of Tah.{{Cite web|title=بالفيديو.. الفصائل تنسف تجمعاً لعناصر ميليشيا أسد شرق إدلب|url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/176440/0/%C8%C7%E1%DD%ED%CF%ED%E6-%C7%E1%DD%D5%C7%C6%E1-%CA%E4%D3%DD-%CA%CC%E3%DA%C7%F0-%E1%DA%E4%C7%D5%D1-%E3%ED%E1%ED%D4%ED%C7-%C3%D3%CF-%D4%D1%DE-%C5%CF%E1%C8|access-date=7 August 2020|website=أورينت نت}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On 27 January 2020 Jaysh al-Izza took part in a counterattack along with HTS, Incite the Believers, and Ansar al-Tawhid against the Syrian Army and Iranian-backed militias in several villages east of Idlib.{{Cite web|title=الفصائل تعلن مقتل مجموعة كاملة لميليشيا أسد جنوب حلب|url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/176539/0/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8|access-date=7 August 2020|website=أورينت نت}}

On 30 January 2020, the Russian Air Force carried out airstrikes on Jaysh al-Izza's headquarters following the beginning of recruitment by the latter, killing three fighters and injuring several others.

On 16 February Jaysh al-Izza targeted a group of Syrian Army soldiers with a thermal-guided ATGM on the Abdeen village axis.{{Cite web|title=شاهد.. انفجار صاروخ حراري وسط عناصر لميليشيا أسد جنوب إدلب|url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/177217/0/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8|access-date=7 August 2020|website=أورينت نت}}{{Cite web|title=فيديو يوثق لحظة إصابة جنود من النظام السوري بصاروخ {{!}} الحرة|url=https://www.alhurra.com/turkey/2020/02/17/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%82-%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE|access-date=7 August 2020|website=alhurra.com|language=ar|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417191720/https://www.alhurra.com/turkey/2020/02/17/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%82-%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE|url-status=live}}

Following the end of fighting, Jaysh al-Izza continued recruitment, holding several graduations of fighters including special forces in July 2020, at a training camp near the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing.{{Cite web|date=17 July 2020|title=جيش العزة يخرِّج دفعة من مجاهدي "القوات الخاصة"|url=https://ebaa.news/news/news-details/2020/07/69944/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=شبكة إباء الإخبارية|language=ar}}{{Cite web|date=26 November 2020|title="Breaking: Jaysh al-Izza's military training camp...has been located"|url=https://twitter.com/syria_map/status/1331900371636195329|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126100006/https://twitter.com/syria_map/status/1331900371636195329|url-status=live}}

{{update|section|reason=Does not cover period of defeat of Assad government, late 2024|date=December 2024}}

On 15 July 2024, according to social media reports, Jaysh Al-Izza repelled an attempt by pro-Assad forces to advance on the axis of the town of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib.{{Cite web |title=AlkulTV on Twitter |url=https://x.com/AlkulTV/status/1811721495585943925 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715181839/https://x.com/AlkulTV/status/1811721495585943925 |archive-date=15 July 2024 |access-date=15 July 2024}}{{Unreliable inline|date=December 2024}}

In November 2024, Jaysh al-izza remained active in northwestern Syria, The group has continued to engage in Military operations and offensives

In 2024, Jaysh al-Izza participated as a part of the Military Operations Command in the 2024 Syrian Opposition offensives that led to the fall of the Assad regime and the formation of the Syrian Transitional Government.

{{reflist}}

• [https://twitter.com/alaza_army Twitter account] (not active)
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc3y17haCXjHkhorn_coHRg YouTube account] (not active)
• https://twitter.com/jamelalsaleh0/

{{Syrian Civil War}}

Category:Anti-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war

Category:Free Syrian Army

Category:2013 establishments in Syria

Category:2025 disestablishments in Syria