as-Sa'iqa

As-Sa'iqa was formed in September 1966 by the Syrian Ba'ath Party. It became active in December 1968, as a member of the PLO. Syria tried to build up an alternative to Yasser Arafat, who was then emerging with his Fatah faction as the primary Palestinian fedayeen leader and politician.{{Cite web|url=http://middleeastreference.org.uk/palestiniangroups.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208073832/http://middleeastreference.org.uk/palestiniangroups.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2006|title=Institutional biographies of Palestinian political groups since 1967|date=February 8, 2006}} As-Sa'iqa was initially the second-largest group within the PLO, after Fatah.Morris, Benny. Righteous Victims. p. 367

As-Sa'iqa was also used in the Ba'thist power struggle then in play in Syria, by Salah Jadid to counter the ambitions of Defence Minister Hafez al-Assad. When al-Assad seized power in the November 1970 "Corrective Revolution", as-Sa'iqa was purged and its leaders replaced with al-Assad loyalists (although Jadid loyalists held on to the as-Sai'qa branch active in the Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan until mid-1971, when they were arrested).{{cite web|url=http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=150|publisher=MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base |title=Al-Saiqa|access-date=2013-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018224828/http://tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=150|archive-date=2007-10-18|url-status = dead}} As new Secretary-General (after Mahmud al-Ma'ayta, who had succeeded Yusuf Zuayyin), al-Assad chose Zuheir Mohsen, a Palestinian Ba'thist who had come to Syria as a refugee from Jordan. He was repeatedly promoted by Syria as a candidate for the post of PLO chairman, to replace Arafat, but never gained support from other factions.

As-Sa'iqa was used by Syria as a proxy force in the Palestinian movement.{{Cite book |last=Schulze |first=Kirsten |title=Israel's Covert Diplomacy in Lebanon |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |year=2016 |isbn=9780230372474 |pages=84}}{{Blockquote|text=The Scene was , in many ways , paradoxical . Assad , the Socialist , put his "proxy" troops , the Syrian-based Palestinians (As-Saiqa) , in the position of preventing effective military moves to oust the president.|title="Reports"|source=American Jewish Alternatives to Zionism , 1977 , Volume 25-27}}{{Cite book |last=Bayman |first=Daniel |title=A High Price , The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism . |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780199830459 |pages=56}}{{Blockquote|text="The terrorist organization As-Sai'qah , which as it is known has so far operated at Syrian initiative ."|author=Arab Affairs Commentor Eliezer Ben-Moshe|title="Tel Aviv Israel Armed Forces Radio in Hebrew 1540 GMT 15 Nov [19]70"|source=Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Foreign Radio Broadcasts Daily Report , Volumes 221-230 .}} While this has prevented as-Sa'iqa from gaining widespread popularity among Palestinians, it became an important force in the Palestinian camps in Syria, as well as in Lebanon. During the Lebanese Civil War, Syria built the movement into one of the most important Palestinian fighting units, but also forced it to join in Syrian offensives against the PLO when relations between al-Assad and Arafat soured. This led to as-Sa'iqa's expulsion from the PLO in 1976, but it was readmitted in December the same year, after the situation had cooled down, and after Syria named this as a condition for further support for the PLO. The attacks on the PLO led to large-scale defections of Syrian-based Palestinians from the movement. As-Saiqa was also responsible for the Damour massacre in 1976 and many other mass murders.{{cite web |author=Cedarland.org| url=http://www.cedarland.org/war.html |title=The Lebanon War |access-date=2013-09-03|url-status = dead |archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20091019081930/http%3A//www%2Ecedarland%2Eorg/war%2Ehtml |archive-date= October 19, 2009}}

After Muhsin's assassination in 1979, Isam al-Qadi became the new Secretary-General. The movement remained active during the Lebanese Civil War, and again joined Syria, the Lebanese Shi'a Amal Movement and Abu Musa's Fatah al-Intifada in attacks on the PLO during the War of the Camps in 1984–85, and for the remainder of the Civil War (which lasted until 1990). This again led to mass-defections of Palestinians from the movement (Harris quotes the Syrian-aligned Amal Movement as complaining that the Syrian-backed Palestinian forces sent to attack the PLO were "Abu Musa in the Biqa'" but "become Abu nothing in the Shuf and Abu Ammar on arrival in Beirut"), and reportedly its ranks were filled with non-Palestinian Syrian army recruits. After the end of the Civil War, the movement was nearly out of contact with the PLO mainstream,{{cite web|url=http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/MEPP/PRRN/papers/sanctuary/ch8.html |title=Welcome to the Palestinian Refugee ResearchNet |publisher=Arts.mcgill.ca |date=2013-01-01 |access-date=2013-09-03}} and exerted influence only in Syria and in Syrian-occupied parts of Lebanon. It kept lobbying within the PLO against the various peace proposals advanced by Arafat, and was part of the Syrian-based National Alliance that opposed Arafat.

After the end of the Lebanese Civil War and the 1993 signing of the Oslo Peace Agreement, as-Sai'qa has largely lost its usefulness to the Syrian government, and the state and size of the organization deteriorated. Today, it is wholly insignificant outside Syria, although it retains a presence in Lebanon (its future is uncertain after the end in 2005 of the Syrian Army's presence in Lebanon). It is extremely weak in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, non-existent in the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israel within the Green Line, and has not been active during the al-Aqsa Intifada. Its importance to Syria has lessened, both because the PLO has diminished in importance compared to the Palestinian National Authority. As-Sai'qa boycotts PNA bodies, and its representative on the PLO Executive Committee also boycotts its sessions.

Following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, as-Sa'iqa took up arms in support of the Syrian Ba'athist government, participating in numerous military operations such as the Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018),{{cite web|url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2018/04/the-south-damascus-campaign-interview-with-quwat |title=The South Damascus Campaign: Interview with Quwat al-Sa'iqa |author=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=29 April 2018}} and the 2018 Southern Syria offensive.{{cite web|url=http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/5438/news-and-reports/palestinian-refugee-dies-while-fighting-alongside-gov-t-forces-south-of-syria |title=Palestinian Refugee Dies While Fighting alongside Gov't Forces South of Syria |work=Action Group for Palestinians of Syria |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=17 July 2018}} Having greatly diminished in numbers, the organization's forces had suffered just 30 fighters killed in action by April 2018. By August 2018, As-Sa'iqa began to lay off a substantial number of its fighters, mostly because they were no longer needed and because of lack of funds.{{cite web|url=http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7604/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/pro-government-palestinian-factions-lay-off-scores-of-gunmen |title=Pro-Government Palestinian Factions Lay off Scores of Gunmen |work=Action Group for Palestinians of Syria |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=29 August 2018}}

After the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, the Syrian transitional government demanded that all Palestinian armed groups in Syria disarm themselves, dissolve their military formations, and instead focus on political and charitable work.{{cite web | url = https://al-akhbar.com/lebanon/816122/%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A--%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9| title = لبنان والحدث السوري: أسئلة حول المقاومة والاقتصاد والاجتماع والحرّيات| website = Al Akhbar (Lebanon)| date = 13 December 2024| access-date = 13 December 2024}} Representatives of the new government also raided the offices of as-Sa'iqa, PFLP-GC, and Fatah al-Intifada, confiscating documents, equipment, and weapons.{{cite web | url = https://inkstickmedia.com/what-does-assads-collapse-mean-for-syrias-palestinian-armed-groups/| title = Assad's Departure Raises Questions for Palestinian Armed Groups in Syria |author=Wesam Sabaaneh| website = Inkstick| date = 17 December 2024| access-date = 18 December 2024}} The new Syrian government ultimately allowed as-Sa'iqa to continue its political activities, with the party reshuffling its leadership "to strengthen the faction's Palestinian role".{{cite web | url = https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/syrias-pro-assad-palestinian-factions-tout-organizational-changes | title = Syria's pro-Assad Palestinian factions tout organizational changes | work = Daily Sabah | date = 12 February 2025 | access-date = 19 February 2025}} On 8 February 2025, as-Sa'iqa reopened its offices in the Al-A'edeen Camp in Hama, prompting protests by locals who demanded that the party be held responsible for violations during the civil war.{{cite web | url = https://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/13966/anger-ignites-hama-camp-why-did-the-residents-revolt-against-sa-iqa | title = Anger Ignites Hama Camp: Why Did the Residents Revolt Against "Sa'iqa"? | work = Action Group for Palestinians of Syria| date = 10 February 2025 | access-date = 19 February 2025}}

• Zuheir Mohsen (1971–1979)
• Isam al-Qadi (1979–2006)
• Farhan Abu Al-Hayja (2007–2018)
• Mohammed Qeis (2018–present)

{{infobox war faction

| name = As-Sa'iqa

| native_name = الصاعقة

| native_name_lang = Arabic

| war =

| image =

| caption =

| active = 1966–1991
2011–2018

| split =

| ideology = Pan-Arabism
Neo-Ba'athism

| clans =

| leaders = Zuheir Mohsen
Isam al-Qadi
Farhan Abu Al-Haija
Mohammed Qeis

| headquarters = Damascus

| area = Syria, Lebanon

| size =

| partof = Palestine Liberation Organization
Alliance of Palestinian Forces

| predecessor =

| successor =

| allies = 1966–1991:
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} Syrian Arab Armed Forces
{{Flagicon image|PFLP-GC Flag.svg}} PFLP-GC
{{flagicon image|Simplified Fatah flag.jpg|size=22px}} Fatah al-Intifada
{{flagicon image|Flag of Lebanon (1943-1995).svg}} Lebanese National Movement
{{Flagicon image|Emblem of the Palestine Liberation Army.svg}} Palestine Liberation Army
{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Amal Movement.svg}} Amal Movement

2011–2018:
{{flagicon|Syria|1980}} Ba'athist Syria
{{flagicon|Iran}} Iran
{{flagicon|Russia}} Russia
{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} Hezbollah

| opponents = 1966–1991:
{{flagicon image|Simplified Fatah flag.jpg|size=22px}} Fatah
{{flagicon image|Forces Libanaises Flag.svg|22px}} Lebanese Front
{{flagicon image|Forces Libanaises Flag.svg|22px}} Lebanese Forces
{{flag|Israel}}

2011–2018:
{{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Free Syrian Army
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qassam Brigades.svg}} Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis
{{flagicon image|Jaysh Al Islam white flag.svg}} Jaysh al-Islam
{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} Ahrar al-Sham
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg}}{{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg}} Al-Nusra Front/Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham

| battles = Lebanese Civil War
Syrian civil war

}}

Since 2007, Farhan Abu Hayja has been Secretary-General of as-Sa'iqa. Muhammad al-Khalifa is its representative on the PLO Executive Committee, but boycotts sessions of the PLO EC.{{cite web |url=http://middleeastreference.org.uk/ploec.html |title= PLO Executive Committee membership 1969-1988|website=middleeastreference.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214064423/http://middleeastreference.org.uk/ploec.html |archive-date=December 14, 2005}}{{cite web | website=Intelligence Resource Program|title=The PLO must end its equivocations| date=9 May 1989 | url=https://irp.fas.org/congress/1989_cr/h890509-plo.htm|page=E1580| access-date=19 June 2023}} During much of the 1970s, as-Sai'qa's representatives in the PLO EC (Muhsin and al-Qadi) held the prestigious and sensitive post of Head of the Military Department, which reflected the military importance of the movement in those years.

Syrian backing in the 1970s gave as-Sa'iqa a military weight far greater than its political influence, which has always been small. During the Lebanese Civil War, it was often the second largest Palestinian faction in fighting strength, after Yassir Arafat's Fatah movement.{{cite web |url=http://middleeastreference.org.uk/palestiniangroups.html |title= Institutional biographies of Palestinian political groups since 1967|website=middleeastreference.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208073832/http://middleeastreference.org.uk/palestiniangroups.html |archive-date=February 8, 2006}}

Under the name Eagles of the Palestinian Revolution - possibly the name of the armed wing of as-Sa'iqa - the organization committed a number of international terrorist attacks. Among these was the 1979 takeover of the Egyptian embassy in Ankara, Turkey{{cite web |url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1979PoGT.pdf |title= Las Vegas Media|website=www.mipt.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111235208/http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1979PoGT.pdf |archive-date=January 11, 2006}} (although attributed to Fatah{{cite web|url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=2491 |title=DIRECTV Packages 1-855-387-5271 DIRECTV Deals & Specials |publisher=Tkb.org |access-date=2013-09-03}}) and a kidnapping of Jews emigrating by train through Austria from the Soviet Union to Israel.{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1991/RRC.htm|title=Yom Kippur War: Grand Deception Or Intelligence Blunder|publisher=Globalsecurity.org|access-date=2013-09-03}} Since the early 1990s, the organization has not committed any known attacks, and it is not listed on the U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

As-Sa'iqa's political agenda is identical to that of Ba'athist Syria, i.e., Arab socialist, nationalist and strongly committed to Pan-Arab doctrine. While this reflects its Ba'thist programme, it has also used Pan-Arabism as a means of supporting the primacy of its sponsor, Syria, over the Arafat-led PLO's claim to exclusive representation of the Palestinian people. Thus, it rejected "Palestinization" of the conflict with Israel, insisting on the necessary involvement of the greater Arab nation. This occasionally went to extremes, with as-Sa'iqa leaders denying the existence of a separate Palestinian people within the wider Arab nation.

The group has generally taken a hard line stance (reflecting that of Syria) on issues such as the recognition of Israel, the Oslo Accords, and other questions of Palestinian goals and political orientation. It was a member of the 1974 Rejectionist Front, despite supporting the Ten Point Programme that initially caused the PLO/Rejectionist Front split.

• Damour massacre
• Aishiyeh massacre
• Arab–Israeli conflict
• Arab Liberation Front
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command
• Fatah al-Intifada
• Palestine Liberation Army

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Fisk |first=Robert |title=Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-19-280130-9 |location=Oxford}}
• {{Cite book |last=Harris |first=William W. |title=Faces of Lebanon: Sects, Wars, and Global Extensions |publisher=Markus Wiener Publishers |year=1997 |isbn=1-55876-115-2 |location=Princeton, NJ}}

• [http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/Results.aspx?page=1&casualties_type=&casualties_max=&perpetrator=2519&charttype=line&chart=overtime&ob=GTDID&od=desc&expanded=yes#results-table Attacks attributed to Saiqa on START database]
• [http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/Results.aspx?page=1&casualties_type=&casualties_max=&perpetrator=2734&charttype=line&chart=overtime&ob=GTDID&od=desc&expanded=yes#results-table Attacks attributed to the "Eagles of the Palestinian Revolution" on START]

{{Ba'ath Party}}

{{Palestinian political parties}}

Category:1966 establishments in Palestine

Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in Palestine

Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in Syria

Category:Arab nationalism in Palestine

Category:Arab nationalist militant groups

Category:Ba'athist parties

Palestine

Category:Factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization

Category:Foreign relations of Syria

Category:Palestinian militant groups

Category:Palestinian nationalist parties

Category:Political parties established in 1966

Category:Socialist parties in Palestine

Category:Pro-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war

Category:Axis of Resistance