Jaysh al-Jihad
{{short description|Jihadist group in Syria}}
{{distinguish|Army of the Holy War}}
{{infobox war faction
| name = Jaysh al-Jihad
| native_name = جيش الجهاد
| native_name_lang = ar
| war = the Syrian Civil War
| image = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 320
| image_gap = 20
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Jaysh al-Jihad logo.jpg{{!}}border
| caption1 = Logo of the group
| image2 = Flag of Jaysh al-Jihad.svg{{!}}border
| caption2 = Flag used by the group
| perrow = 2
| align = center
}}
| caption =
| active = February 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/peace/conflict_resolution/syria-conflict/islamic-state-in-southern-syria-may2015.pdf|title=The Islamic State in Southern Syria|work=Carter Center|accessdate=10 June 2015|date=15 May 2015}} – 21 May 2016
| ideology = Salafi Jihadism
| leaders = Abu Mussab Al-Fanussy
| headquarters = Al-Qahtaniyah, Quneitra
| area = Quneitra Governorate and Daraa Governorate, Syria
| partof = {{flagdeco|ISIL}} Islamic State (allegedly)
| predecessor =
| successor = 20px Khalid ibn al-Walid Army
| allies = Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade
| opponents = *25px Syrian Arab Armed Forces
- {{flagicon image|InfoboxNDF.png}} National Defense Force
- {{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} Ahrar ash-Sham{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN0NL1OU20150430|title=Islamist fighters seize southern Syria crossing: monitor|publisher=Reuters|date=30 April 2015|accessdate=6 April 2016}}
- 25px Southern Front{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jihadists-clash-with-syrian-rebels-along-israels-border/|title=Jihadists clash with Syrian rebels along Israel's border|publisher=AP|date=29 April 2015|accessdate=9 May 2015}}
- 25px al-Nusra Front{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/04/28/Rebels-fight-ISIS-linked-group-near-Israeli-occupied-Golan.html|title=Rebels fight ISIS-linked group near Israeli-occupied Golan|publisher=AFP|date=28 April 2015|accessdate=9 May 2015}}
- File:Jaysh Al Islam white flag.svg Jaysh al-Islam{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2015/05/syrian-rebels-expel-isis-from-town-near-israeli-border/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518132122/http://aranews.net/2015/05/syrian-rebels-expel-isis-from-town-near-israeli-border/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|title=Syrian rebels expel ISIS from town near Israeli border|publisher=ARA News|date=4 May 2015|accessdate=9 May 2015}}
| battles = Syrian Civil War
}}
Jaysh al-Jihad (Jihad Army) was an Islamist rebel group based in Quneitra Governorate. The group formed from the merger of seven small independent groups and factions that defected from Nusra Front after it clashed with the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade in December 2014. These groups were: Jihad Brigades, Jamaat Jund al-Islam, Jamaat Abu Baseer, Mujahideen of al-Sham movement, Jamaat Shabab Ahl al-Sunnah, Nurayn Brigade, and Jamaat Bunyan al-Marsous.
The group had been accused by other Syrian rebel groups of being affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).{{cite web|url=http://aawsat.com/home/article/285296/%C2%AB%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%C2%BB-%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%80%C2%AB%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4%C2%BB-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A9%D8%9F|title="جيش الجهاد".. هل هو خلايا نائمة لـ"داعش" في درعا والقنيطرة؟|publisher=|accessdate=9 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dotmsr.com/details/7-%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF|title=دوت مصر - 7 فصائل سورية تعلن إنشاء "جيش الجهاد"|work=دوت مصر|accessdate=9 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517233814/http://www.dotmsr.com/details/7-%D9%81%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF|archive-date=17 May 2017|url-status=dead}} In April 2015, violent clashes broke out between the group and the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra Front, after Jaish al-Jihad militants ambushed and killed six FSA fighters at a checkpoint in Quneitra.{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/emergence-southern-syria-1941163865|title=The emergence of IS in southern Syria|publisher=Middle East Eye|date=30 April 2015|accessdate=10 June 2015}} By 6 May 2015, Nusra and other rebel groups announced that they had cleared al-Qahtaniyah and Quneitra city of Jaysh al-Jihad forces.
In May 2016, remnants of Jaysh al-Jihad joined with two other Pro-ISIL factions in Southern Syria, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and Islamic Muthanna Movement, to form the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/far-from-raqqa-and-fallujah-syria-rebels-open-new-front-against-isil-in-the-south#full|title=Far from Raqqa and Fallujah, Syria rebels open new front against ISIL in the south|work=The National|date=29 May 2016}}