No one can deny that "Islamophobia" sweeping the Syrian street in general, and especially with regard to to what so-called "Islamization” of Free Syrian Army FSA , either intellectually and politicized or those which are limited to technically, and despite the negative impact of this issue politically but in the militarily side has a positive impact on the Battlefield.
"Zaman Al Wasl" has been monitored the FSA’s practices during the past four months regarding the Islamic practices in Aleppo, and it came out with a result that Islamic Ideology just restricted to the army component, nothing to do with civil life, and what we hear no more than exaggerations by Media because lacking of studies and researches.
Aleppo Trinity
Aleppo, since the battle has been erupted in July 2012 under the name "the battle to liberate Aleppo" has divided into three main zones.
First Zone (the eastern and southern regions of Aleppo) is Dominated by FSA , that areas consist of slum-dogs where poverty and the destination of poor people who came during the last decade to Aleppo perusing best life. Though, those neighborhoods were the first place which embraced the peaceful demonstrations.
II: The Christian neighborhoods areas and rich families (the bourgeoisie which under Regime army control, and), in addition to the city center and areas where Intelligence headquarters that constitute the symbolic attendance for Assad’s regime after falling down the most of government institutions.
Region III: Kurdish neighborhoods/ Seikh Maksoud and Ashrafyya/ its almost stable and enjoy normal life what makes hundreds of families fleeing there. The area is controlled by PYD (Democratic Union Party) which considered as the armed wing of Kurdistan Workers' Party- PKK.
FSA liberated areas in Aleppo
Liberated neighborhoods are distributed among the battalions and Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Tawheed brigade, al-Fateh Brigade and Ahrar al-Sham .
It's worth mentioning that all armed groups of FSA in Aleppo are fighting individually or having their untied operational room when it needed.
The areas controlled by FSA still in the range of regime army weapons what makes the sovereignty very fragile where each meter is under Syrian regime missiles and artillery. That situation had affected the civil society activities and mixes the political issues with military ones.
FSA Battalions Identity
The Institute for the Study of War published an important study about Jihadists in Syrian, was written by the research analyst Elizabeth O’Bagy, called ''JIHAD IN SYRIA: THE RISE OF JABHAT NUSRA'' depended on CIA' sources which exists heavily on the Syrian-Turkish borders. she said: ''it is important to identify groups of FSA that ascribe to a Salafist ideology like 'Jabhat al-Nusra' which is a Syrian Salafist organization that is increasing both its lethal capability and its popular base in Syria and Secular Islamist Salafist , ''it is important to distinguish them based upon their religious ideology.'' She added.
Despite Jabhat al-Nusra’s radical ideology, the study said, ''the organization has gained a level of popular support. In June in the town of Binnish, northern Idlib province, Jabhat al-Nusra was extolled during a mass demonstration.''
The study explained that west concerns of extremism just relies on some aspects like religious slogans, brigades and Battalions names, as well as having long beards and doing to the daily prayers.
The researcher considered these practices a Salfist legacy reflects radical tendencies among some battalions.
The researcher has put Jabaht al-Nusra in close position to al-Tawheed brigade which sounds to be a mistake but she realized that by mentioning the role of religion in Syria and exploring its inspiration in war and hard times. The other thing, that FSA Battalions are practicing the historical tolerance of Syrian people during their ruling of liberated areas according to O'bagy.
'How he look like Look' not necessarily "Islamization"
Islamic groups in Aleppo can be divided into two main classifications according to "Zaman Al Wasl" data.
The first one stands on Jihad ideology which attracts Arabs and foreigners jihadists, their numbers are not exceeding 1% of FSA.
The other classification does not have any Islamic project or Jihadist background where the ''Islamization'' is limited by outside look and behavior. We can consider it a circumstantial and not last longing restricted to the fight areas and it can be disappearing in quite neighborhoods.
As for the armed formations of jihadist ideology, the most notably battalions and brigades are Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham Brigade, " Fajer Al-Isalm Movement, Aleppo Brigade, Dere'e al-Omma Brigade, Andan Brigade, Islam Brigades, Muhammad's Army brigade, and Victory Brigade.
Jihadist brigades
Ahrar Al-Sham
Ahrar al-Sham and Jabaht al-Nusra considered as is the most prominent Islamic jihad battalions in FSA, but al-Hrar can be more open to the Media regarding coordinating with it or publicizing their operations again Assad regime.
Al-Ahrar Brigade define itself as an Islamic group was founded to support Damascus which so-called ''Al-Sham'' it adopt Jihad as the only way to get Damascus bride again and by implementing the God Shriaaby arbitration of God law and to end the suffer of Syrian people depending on 'Al-Sunna and Holy Quraan.
The arbitration God law can accommodate questions around but we did not find in remarks or hints to the Islamic state in the media statement they did as their principles said.
The brigade assures the demand of Islamic state is demand of all Jihadist groups but they consider that very hard to be achieved regarding the current situation. This demand should be realistic they think.
The brigade fully believes that demonstrations are not effective "because we are dealing with sectarian criminal aggressor.'' They said.
Ahrar al-Sham objective is no more stepping down the regime. One senior leader said to ''Zaman alwasl''.
''We are not perfect, our strategy to surround the regime military bases wherever he is and to narrowing the military conflict area.'' added
Concerning the Aleppian street stand on the Jihadist bodies and the “martyrdom operations”, he emphasized that Ahrar AL sham’s stand is based on legitimate evidences which stress that no matter what the end is, it does not justify the inviolability of blood. Also, he explained that the core of Jihad is defending people and preventing any harm from the public. Any possible harm that befalls the public causes suspicion and he clarified that a number of certain operations were stopped because of fear of loss of civilians.
Jabhet Al-Nusra, the black box
Jabhet Al-Nusra is still the most famous from all the armed jihadist bodies and the most interesting in the public opinion. It made people busy and at the same time worrisome. It is the one body which is far from the media. It is the most effective on the ground and the toughest on the Assad military. Its work is mostly confidential and ambiguous.
Jabhat Al-Nusra was mentioned for the first time by the regime channel after the explosions of Qazaz at the beginning of the year.
In Aleppo, Jabhat Al-Nusra could enter into few neighborhoods smoothly and concentrated at Maysar neighborhood. The former operation room was a wedding hall. It was one of the most important paradoxes back then. Getting in was very tempting for media persons. However, there is one press interview with one of the leaders of Jabhat Al-Nosra and was broadcasted on Aljazeera Net.
With a Jihadist in Jabht Al-Nusra.
“Zaman Al-Wasl” correspondent in Aleppo talked about a fighter he met in Karam Al-beek. The fighter moved from one of the brigades to fight with Jabhat Al-Nusra and the allegiance was set. After four days, he joined Jabhat Al-Nusra. The four days were sufficient to get to know one side of this armed body.
The fighter who spoke on condition of anonymity, follows Wahabist sect- kind of Salafisim- before the revolution talked of a number of failed attempts to join Jabhat Al-Nusra. He said, “My heart, my mind, my clothes, my beard, my faith, my objectives, and my fighting experience were not enough to join Jabhat Al-Nusra.”
He talked about the hard condition set up by Jabhat Al-Nusra to choose fighters. One of those conditions is that the fighter has to be recommended from two of group leaders in the Jabha. That he got after he fought along with a group from the Jabha. It was during the famous 'Mazafetzino' battle when he got to know the second leader and by doing that he fulfilled the membership condition of the Jabha.
The fighter, after taking the allegiance, was given a ‘CD’ of the most important operations for the Jabha and some religious teachings. What is worth noticing that most of the recording was in the voice of Abu Muhammad Al-Jwlani-the Jabha’s prince- is an unidentified person. We think the voice was amended. The recordings do not include any demands of an Islamic state or Imara.
The fighter reiterated more than once what was already known about the Jabha that it is a black box and will stay like that until the regime falls.
During the long talk with the fighter, he said that Jabhat Al-Nusra quite realizes it will not be able to copy Al-Qaeda experience in Afghanistan or Yemen. In his response to our question if he is willing to undertake a ‘martyrdom operation’, he said, “I am ready to be on the frontlines day and night, and I am ready to fight and become a martyr; however, I am not going to participate in a ‘martyrdom operation’.”
Concerning the foreign and Arab fighters, he clarified that they talk little and work always saying they are called ‘migrants’.
Full stops and commas
There were many disputes between brigades, bodies, and factions of the Free Syrian Army on the distribution of the spoils taken from the regime like weapons, ammunition, and machinery if distribution would be according to the ones on the frontlines, or according to the size of the body as a whole. The Free Syrian Army factions choose Jabhat Al-Nusra to be the responsible for the distribution of the spoils because according to them it is the most “just”. This is what really happened and after this no dispute was recorded regarding this point.
According to reconnaissance which Zaman Al-Wasl correspondent has made in Aleppo, there is almost consensus that Jabhat Al-Nusra is the most present on the frontlines and the most painful for the Assad military.
One of the most important brigade leaders in Aleppo whispered to our correspondent that there would not have been a battle in Aleppo if Jabhat Al-Nusra was not there. Another brigade leader whispered that this is exaggerated.
There are courts for Jabhat Al-Nusra and when the brigades dispute, they go to Jabhat Al-Nusra’s courts.
One of the brigade’s leaders had once received a phonecall that he was turned into a court of Jabhat Al-Nusra and it was obvious that he looked scared. Our correspondent asked him if the Jabha court was like the Air Intelligence branch. He said that out of seriousness and horror, yes, but they do not oppress there.
It was noticed that there was a Chinese Jihadist and another Canadian fighting in Jabhat Al-Nusra frontlines.
In the Aleppian Street, there are tales which are more like legends of foreign fighters who are believed to belong to Jabhat Al-Nosra.
Zaman Al-Wasl will try one way or the other to get into “Jabhat Al-Nosra world” the secretive again to meet “the prince” as much as it affords.
Zaman Al Wasl- Exclusive
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