Ahrar al-Sharqiya

Ahrar al-Sharqiya
تجمع احرار الشرقية
Leaders	Abou Hatim Shaqra[1][2] Abu Jaafar Jazra Abu Jaafer Shaqra
Dates of operation	2016–present
Split from	Ahrar al-Sham[3]
Group(s)	Badr Martyrs' Battalion[1]
Active regions	Aleppo Governorate, Syria Turkey
Ideology	Islamism[1] Anti-Kurdish sentiment
Size	over 2,000
Part of	Syrian National Army First Legion[4]
Allies	Turkey Free Syrian Army National Front for Liberation Jaysh al-Islam (sometimes)
Opponents	Syrian Arab Armed Forces  Russia Syrian Democratic Forces Hezbollah Syrian Resistance Sinjar Alliance International Freedom Battalion Hamza Division (sometimes)[5] Islamic State Farouq Brigades (sometimes)[6] Levant Front (sometimes)[7] Jaysh al-Islam (sometimes)[8]
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Rojava–Islamist conflict Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War Operation Euphrates Shield Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016) Battle of al-Bab Operation Olive Branch SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo Operation Peace Spring Eastern Syria insurgency Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)
Flag
Website	twitter.com/ahraralsharqia

Ahrar al-Sharqiya is a militant group from Syria. Many of its fighters are former members of Daesh, Ahrar al-Sham, and Jabhat Al-Nusra.^[9]

The group got international media attention in 2019 after the murder of Hevrin Khalaf being condemned by the UN as a "war crime".^[10][11]

The group is funded by Turkey and members were sent to fight in Libya on Turkey's behalf.^[12] The group has also supported military operations against the SDF in Syria.^[13]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Fatma Ben Hamad. (21 October 2019). "Images document extrajudicial killings by Turkish-backed militia in Syria". France24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
2. ↑ Tom Perry; Ellen Francis (20 December 2018). "Syria's Kurds reel from U.S. move, Assad seen planning next step". Reuters. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
3. ↑ ""Ahrar al-Sharqiya Brigade": The Potential Spearhead of East of Euphrates Battles". Enab Baladi. 19 November 2018.
4. ↑ Image pbs.twimg.com
5. ↑ "Once again, clashes break out between Ahrar Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sharqiya in Al-Bab city - Aleppo24 English". en.aleppo24.com.
6. ↑ "FSA FACTIONS CLASH OVER STOLEN PROPERTY IN AFRIN". 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
7. ↑ "Clash between Bubena tribe and Ahrar al-Sham gangs in Afrin".
8. ↑ Aboufadel, Leith (6 November 2018). "Heavy clashes breakout between Turkish-backed rebels inside of Afrin region". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
9. ↑ "2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Turkey". Retrieved 16 April 2023.
10. ↑ "Turkey-backed Syrian rebels kill Kurdish politician, execute prisoners". The Defense Post. October 13, 2019.
11. ↑ Nebehay, Stephanie (October 15, 2019). "U.N. urges Turkey to investigate executions in Syria". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
12. ↑ Ragip Soylu; Harun al-Aswad (27 December 2019). "Turkey to send Syrian rebel fighters to battle Haftar in Libya". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
13. ↑ "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". VOA News. 9 October 2019.