Liwa al-Haqq (Idlib)

{{Short description|Syrian Islamist rebel group}}

{{about|the Liwa al-Haqq group in Idlib|the Homsi Liwa al-Haqq|Liwa al-Haqq (Homs, Syria)}}

{{infobox war faction

| name = Liwa al-Haqq {{small|(Idlib)}}

| native_name = لواء الحق بريف إدلب

| native_name_lang = Ar

| war = the Syrian Civil War

| image = 100px

| caption = Logo of Liwa al-Haqq

| active =

| ideology = Salafi Jihadism{{cite web|url=http://the-arab-chronicle.com/new-face-syrian-rebellion/#|title=The new face of the Syrian rebellion|publisher=The Arab Chronicle|accessdate=2 December 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326104506/http://the-arab-chronicle.com/new-face-syrian-rebellion/|archivedate=26 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

| leaders =

| groups =

| headquarters = Idlib, Syria

| area = Hama Governorate, Syria{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24403003#|title=Guide to the Syrian rebels

|publisher=BBC|date=13 December 2013|accessdate=17 May 2015}}
Idlib Governorate, Syria{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=54320|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210074146/http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=54320|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2014|title=The Other Syrian Peace Process|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|date=27 January 2014|accessdate=15 May 2014}}

| size =

| partof = {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} Muhajirin wa-Ansar Alliance
{{Flagicon image|Emblem of the Jaish al-Fatah.svg}} Army of Conquest{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/main/30-reports/1942-rebels-launch-full-on-assault-of-idlib-city|publisher=Syria Direct|accessdate=25 March 2015|title=Rebels launch full-on assault of Idlib city}}
Fatah Halab{{Cite web |url=https://archicivilians.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/aleppfactions1.png |title=Aleppo Factions logo images |access-date=2015-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010091947/https://archicivilians.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/aleppfactions1.png |archive-date=2017-10-10 |url-status=dead }}

| predecessor =

| successor = {{flagicon image|}} Tahrir al-Sham

| allies = {{flagdeco|ISIL}} Islamic State of Iraq {{small|(2013)}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Liwaa al-Umma.svg}} Liwaa al-Umma
{{flagicon image|Flag of Jund al-Aqsa.svg}} Jund al-Aqsa
{{flagicon image|Flag of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.svg}} Jabhat Fateh al-Sham
{{Flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement

| opponents = {{Flagicon|Syria|1980}} Ba'athist Syria
{{flag|Iran}}
{{flag|Russia}}

| battles = Syrian Civil War

| designated_as_terror_group_by = {{MYS}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901101308/https://www.moha.gov.my/images/maklumat_bahagian/KK/kdndomestic.pdf|url=https://www.moha.gov.my/images/maklumat_bahagian/KK/kdndomestic.pdf|archive-date=2021-09-01|title=LIST OF INDIVIDUALS, ENTITIES AND OTHER GROUPS AND UNDERTAKINGS DECLARED BY THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AS SPECIFIED ENTITY UNDER SECTION 66B(1)|date=31 May 2019|website=Government of Malaysia}}

}}

Liwa al-Haqq ({{langx|ar|لواء الحق بريف إدلب}}, Right Brigade or Truth Brigade), was a Syrian Islamist rebel group that was active during the Syrian Civil War until joining Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in 2017.

History

On 31 October 2014, amid fighting between al-Nusra and the western-backed Hazzm Movement and Syrian Revolutionaries Front, Liwa al-Haqq along with 13 other rebel groups in Idlib established a peace keeping force to mediate the conflict between al-Nusra and the western backed groups, among the peace keeping factions included Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam, Suqour al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement.{{cite web |url=http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/al-qaida-jabhat-al-nusra-allied-militias-advance-idlib-whipping-us-vetted-militias/ |title=Nusra's Offensive in Idlib & its Attempt to Destroy Washington's Allies. November 2014 |date=5 November 2014 |website=www.joshualandis.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107114308/http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/al-qaida-jabhat-al-nusra-allied-militias-advance-idlib-whipping-us-vetted-militias/ |archive-date=7 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}

In May 2015, Liwa al-Haqq was part of a joint rebel offensive alongside the al-Nusra Front, Ajnad al-Kavkaz, Jund al-Aqsa, and Faylaq al-Sham against the Syrian government in northwestern Syria, that eventually led to the rebel takeover of much of the Idlib Governorate, including the governorate's capital Idlib.{{Cite web | url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/analysis-nusra-front-cements-its-place-syria | title=ANALYSIS: Nusra Front cements its place in Syria }}

In September 2015, In response to reports of Russian intervention, Liwa al-Haqq commander Abu Abdullah Taftanaz posted a tweet addressing "infidel Russians", and threatening to "slaughter you like pigs."{{cite news|url=http://m.gulfnews.com/news/mena/syria/russia-s-moves-in-syria-are-unprecedented-1.1591515|title=Russia's moves in Syria are 'unprecedented'|author=Sami Moubayed|publisher=Gulf News|date=30 September 2015|accessdate=23 November 2015}}

In October 2015, a Russian air raid targeted a Liwa al-Haqq base in the Raqqa Governorate using KAB-500KR precision-guided bombs, reportedly killing two senior IS commanders and up to 200 militants.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Russian-air-force-hits-60-Islamic-State-targets-in-Syria-kills-300-jihadists/articleshow/49292491.cms|title=Russian air force hits 60 Islamic State targets in Syria, kills 300 jihadists|date=7 October 2015|work=The Times of India|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012021729/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Russian-air-force-hits-60-Islamic-State-targets-in-Syria-kills-300-jihadists/articleshow/49292491.cms|archivedate=12 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In November 2015, Liwa al-Haqq and al-Nusra both released photos of an American made Humvee captured from an Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia in southern Aleppo, that was believed to be Kataib Hezbollah.{{cite web| url = https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/11/al-nusrah-front-shows-captured-humvees-in-aleppo.php| title = Al Nusrah Front shows captured Humvees in Aleppo {{!}} FDD's Long War Journal}}{{cite web |url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CT98ntjWsAAeSIJ?format=png&name=medium |title=Seizing a Hummer armored vehicle from the Rafidite militias near Tal Hadiya in the southern countryside of Aleppo|format=image |website=pbs.twimg.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501194929/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CT98ntjWsAAeSIJ?format=png&name=medium |archive-date=1 May 2020 |url-status=dead}}

In early May 2016, Liwa al-Haqq took part in a campaign part of the Army of Conquest coalition in southern Aleppo, during the offensive al-Nusra deployed SVBIEDs targeting Shiite militia fighters in the area, and Jund al-Aqsa carried out separate attacks in coordination with al-Nusra and the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria during the offensive.{{cite web| url = https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/05/jaysh-al-fath-coalition-launches-new-offensive-in-aleppo-province.php| title = Jaysh al Fath coalition launches new offensive in Aleppo province {{!}} FDD's Long War Journal}}

On 28 January 2017, Liwa al-Haqq, alongside the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, Jabhat Ansar al-Din, Jaysh al-Sunna and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was formerly al-Nusra until disengaging from al-Qaeda and rebranding in 2016, together merged to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.{{Cite web | url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/al-qaedas-latest-rebranding-hayat-tahrir-al-sham | title=Al Qaeda's Latest Rebranding: Hay'at Tahrir al Sham }}

In June 2018, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested several members of IS-linked cells in eastern Idlib, including cells affiliated Liwa Dawud which pledged allegiance to IS in 2014 and members of Liwa al-Haqq.{{Cite web |url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/6958 |title=Military movements by Tahrir al-Sham to eliminate the key strongholds of ISIS Group-run cells in Idlib | date=28 June 2018 |access-date=2020-05-01 |archive-date=2020-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202095006/http://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/6958 |url-status=dead }}

See also

References

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