Ghuraba al-Sham
| Ghuraba al-Sham | |
|---|---|
| غرباء الشام | |
Leader | Mahmud al-Aghasi (2003–2007)[1] |
| Dates active | 2003–2013 |
| Active regions | Syria Lebanon Iraq[2] |
| Ideology | Sunni Jihadism[3] |
| Wars | Iraq War, 2007 Lebanon conflict and Syrian civil war |
Ghuraba al-Sham (Arabic: غرباء الشام Ghurabā' ash-Shām, "Strangers of the Levant ") was a group of jihadists of Turkish and former Eastern bloc origin[3] who smuggled foreign fighters to Iraq, intervened in Lebanon during the 2007 Lebanon conflict,[4] and fought in Syria during the Syrian civil war.[3] The group coordinated with Al-Nusra Front in clashes with the People's Protection Units during the Battle of Ras al-Ayn in November 2012[5] and in January 2013.[6] The group apparently shut down or disappeared in 2014.
Structure
[edit]The group was founded by Aleppo preacher Mahmud al-Aghasi, who was also known as Abu al-Qaqa. He was often accused by Syrian opposition parties of working for the Mukhabarat and during the 2007 Lebanon conflict he was known as the Godfather of Fatah al-Islam.[4] The group was widely believed by many Lebanese people to be smuggling fighters to Iraq during the Iraqi insurgency and later to the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp to help Fatah al-Islam under the alleged auspice of the Syrian government.[4] Abu al-Qaqa was killed in Aleppo by a former prisoner who was held by Americans during the Iraq War[1] on 28 September 2007.[4] Members of the group were recruited in Syria and sent to Iraq to fight during the Iraq War.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Radical Syrian cleric 'shot dead'". BBC. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "Syria's Islamic Movement and the Current Uprising: Political Acquiescence, Quietism, and Dissent". Jadaliyya. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Jihadists eclipsing other rebels in Syria's Aleppo". Daily News Egypt. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 McGregor, Andrew (October 2007). "Controversial Syrian Preacher Abu al-Qaqa Gunned Down in Aleppo". Terrorism Focus. 4 (33). Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "Jihadist rebels in standoff with Syria Kurds: NGO". Al Arabiya. AFP/Reuters. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "Heavy casualties as huge blast hit Aleppo". Reuters and AFP. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
External links
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