Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region

When the Syrian Civil War broke out, various rebel factions took control of much of eastern Syria. After a period of infighting among the insurgents, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) emerged victorious and absorbed or expelled other rebel groups from eastern Syria. Regardless of these developments, a large part of the civilian population living under rebel and later ISIL rule remained secretly supportive of the Assad government. Eventually, ISIL was mostly defeated by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who took control of its territories. Many government loyalists regarded the SDF which was supported by foreigners such as the United States Armed Forces as just another illegitimate occupier. Furthermore, the new SDF-backed civilian administration in areas such as Raqqa proved unable to fully alleviate the local humanitarian crisis. Support for the government thus underwent a resurgence.{{cite web| url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/26/in-isis-islamic-state-former-stronghold-secret-yearning-for-assad-rqqa-sdf/| title = In the Islamic State's Former Stronghold, a Secret Yearning for Assad| last = Tsurkov| first = Elizabeth| date = 26 July 2019| work = Foreign Policy| access-date = 2 August 2019}}{{cite web| url = https://www.memri.org/reports/syrian-threats-against-us-presence-syria-continue-us-troops-bases-are-our-sights-and-will| title = Syrian Threats Against The U.S. Presence In Syria Continue: U.S. Troops, Bases Are In Our Sights And Will Pay A Heavy Price | date = 2 May 2018| work = MEMRI| access-date = 2 August 2019}}

On 26 February 2018, loyalist militants in Raqqa officially banded together to fight the SDF and U.S. troops, and announced the foundation of the "Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region" or "Popular Resistance in Raqqa". In its first statement, the group framed its actions as struggle against the "tyrannical American enemy" and pro-American "terrorists from all corners of the earth" [i.e. the SDF]. Around the same time, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently claimed that the "Shield of the Al-Jazira Heroes", a pro-government insurgent group was being set up in Raqqa's countryside. The combat capabilities of the "Popular Resistance" remained unclear; the group's first video showed just a few masked men with guns. The pro-opposition site Baladi News alleged that it was part of the pro-government forces that were fighting alongside the SDF against Turkey in the Afrin Region without providing any proof.{{cite web| url = https://www.memri.org/reports/syrian-regime-we-will-expel-us-forces-syria-means-popular-resistance| title = Syrian Regime: We Will Expel U.S. Forces From Syria By Means Of Popular Resistance| date = 28 March 2018| work = MEMRI| access-date = 12 September 2019}}

The group is allegedly supported by Iran,{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/iran-is-outpacing-assad-for-control-of-syrias-shia-militias |title= Iran Is Outpacing Assad for Control of Syria's Shia Militias |author=Phillip Smyth |work=Washington Institute |date=12 April 2018 |accessdate=15 April 2019}} and trained by the Baqir Brigade, a unit of the Syrian Armed Forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/05/trump-withdrawal-iranian-deal-face-off-northern-syria-sdf.html |title=Will escalation in Iran-US tensions impact Syria conflict? |work=al-Monitor |author=Mona Alami |date=4 September 2019 |accessdate=4 September 2019|url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528074853/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/05/trump-withdrawal-iranian-deal-face-off-northern-syria-sdf.html |archivedate=28 May 2018}}

Following its foundation, the group recruited locals opposed to the SDF's policies in Raqqa such as forced conscription, and the new administration's perceived lack of care for the interests and needs of the local people.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/no-to-occupation-forces-militia-in-raqqa-allegedly-attacks-us-base-video/|title=No to 'occupation forces': Militia in Raqqa allegedly attacks US base (video) |work=al-Masdar News |date=3 April 2018 | access-date = 12 September 2019}} The Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region uses Facebook to post content and has posted pictures and videos of supporters expressing their approval of the movement in ways such as raising Syrian flags, pictures of leaflets with pro-group writings and video statements. Videos of attacks on American forces and allied SDF militias have also been posted by the group.{{cite web|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-des-forces-clandestines-du-regime-infiltrees-en-zone-kurde|title=Syrie: des forces clandestines du régime implantées en zone kurde|date=11 April 2018|website=FranceSoir}} The group claimed in April 2018 to have carried out two attacks on U.S. positions at Ayn Issa, but these claims remained uncorroborated and were denied by the SDF. Overall, the group appears to be more focused on civil actions and propaganda than waging an actual insurgency. On 2 April 2018, another pro-government faction with a similar background emerged in the al-Hasakah Governorate.

On 14 March 2019, two attacks reportedly targeted SDF convoys in Raqqa. According to the pro-government al-Masdar News, "some activists" claimed that the Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region was responsible for the attacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sdf-troops-suffer-heavy-casualties-after-convoy-comes-under-attack-in-raqqa/ |title=SDF troops suffer heavy casualties after convoy comes under attack in Raqqa |work=al-Masdar News |date=3 April 2018| access-date = 12 September 2019}}

After the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, there are still some pro-Ba'athist insurgents in eastern Syria. On January 23, 2025, the SDF destroyed a cell linked to the remnants of the Ba'athist regime in the Deir ez-Zor countryside and captured four Assad loyalists.{{Cite web |title=SDF dismantles a cell affiliated with the remnants of Baathist regime in Deir ez-Zor countryside |url=https://anfenglish.com/rojava-syria/sdf-dismantles-a-cell-affiliated-with-the-remnants-of-baathist-regime-in-deir-ez-zor-countryside-77721 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=ANF News |language=en}} The Syrian Democratic Forces vowed not to tolerate the remnants of the Assad regime who attacked the towns of Diban and {{Interlanguage link|al-Tayyana|ar|الطيانة (دير الزور)}} and committed acts of sabotage in them.{{cite web |title=SDF threatens remnants of the Baathist regime in Deir-ez-Zor |url=https://hawarnews.com/en/sdf-threatens-remnants-of-the-baathist-regime-in-deir-ez-zor |publisher=ANHA |access-date=20 January 2025}}

As of April 2025, the group is still active, but very limited in its actions.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

• Al-Awda (guerrilla organization)
• Military Council for the Liberation of Syria
• Syrian Popular Resistance

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Category:2018 establishments in Syria

Category:Anti-American sentiment in Asia

Category:Anti-Kurdish sentiment

Category:Arab nationalism in Syria

Category:Arab nationalist militant groups

Category:Organizations based in Syria

Category:Pro-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war

Category:Rebel groups in Syria

Category:Axis of Resistance