Syrian National Army

The Syrian National Army ( SNA ; Arabic الجيش الوطني السوري, DMG al-Ǧaiš al-waṭanī as-sūrī ) is an army supported by Turkey in the Syrian Civil War . It is often referred to as the Free Syrian Army , but this is a misnomer, as the command of the army has no subordinate connection to it. It was created by bringing together several rebel groups. On October 4, 2019, the National Liberation Front joined the SNA. Together with the Revolutionary Command Army and Haiʾat Tahrir al-Sham, it is one of the three largest opposition groups in the Syrian civil war.

The rebel group is working with the Turkish government and operating in the areas occupied by Turkey.

history

2016: Operation Euphrates Shield

The Syrian National Army made its first appearance in 2016. In the " Euphrates Shield " operation, they attacked the Islamic State together with the Turkish armed forces and then came across the People's Defense Units in Rojava . They were able to put several areas under their care, but were eventually blocked by Syrian forces .

2018: Operation Olive Branch

SNA soldiers with members of the Turkish army with Leopard 2A4 tanks

On January 20th, Turkish troops, together with the Syrian National Army, began Operation Olive Branch . In a military offensive on the Kurdish occupied Afrin , the Syrian National Army was able to conquer the area around Afrin together with other groups of the Free Syrian Army .

2019: Idlib offensive and Operation Peace Source

In August 2019, the SNA sent several soldiers to the Idlib governorate to respond to the offensive of the Syrian troops in Idlib. On October 9th, Turkey started Operation "Peace Source" , in which the SNA participated.

2020: Second Idlib offensive

At the beginning of the year the SNA supported the National Liberation Front in Idlib, which is itself part of the SNA, with troops. They defended the village of Saraqib , but had to flee.

Web links

Commons : Free Syrian Army  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Free Syrian Army transforms into Syrian National Army. Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
2. ↑ Who Are The Turkey-backed Syrian Rebels? Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
3. ^ Union of rebel groups. Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
4. ↑ Zvi Bar'el: The Free Syrian Army Follows Orders From Turkey . In: Haaretz . November 26, 2016 ( Haaretz.com [accessed February 18, 2020]).
5. ^ Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army Takes Control of Jarablus. Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Syrian Kurds cede buffer as Turkish-backed FSA advances on Manbij. March 9, 2017, accessed February 18, 2020 . 
7. ↑ Erdogan: Operation in Syria's Afrin has begun. Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
8. ^ Turkey-backed forces capture Syrian border town. Retrieved February 18, 2020 . 
9. ↑ Abdurrahman: Rebels fully withdrew from Saraqib as regime what about to cut the load supply route into the town. In: @abdurahmanhrk. February 5, 2020, accessed on February 18, 2020 .