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Latakia

Ariha

Turkey

Aleppo

Jebel al-Zawiyah

Jebel al-Zawiyah is a rebel stronghold that lies 11 kilometers to the west of

the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo. It lies 30 km southeast of the

Turkish border. The city of Ariha sits along the main road linking Aleppo to

Latakia. Rebel groups there are well positioned to deny the regime access

to key lines of communication across Syria.

Regime massacres fighters and villagers

Rebel raids and IED attacks increase

Regime draws down to increase forces elsewhere

Rebels improve organizational capacity, Idlib Military Council forms

Rebels carry out coordinated attack, overrun Mughara checkpoint

Rebels travel 11 km to overrun fortified position on main north-south highway

Regime violently disperses protests, small bands of rebels emerge

Large armed demonstrations in Jebel al-Zawiyah

Rebels form more coherent organizations

Unarmed protests begin

Sarjah

Ariha

Sarjeh

Ariha

Sarjah

Ariha

Khan Subul

Mughara

Rami

• Operates out of Sarjah

• Founded September 2011

• Lead by Ahmed Abu Issa

• Run by a shura council

• Stated aim is creation of a “moderate Islamic state”

• Not directly linked to the Idlib Military Council

• Arms network is separate from the Idlib

Revolutionary Council network

• Operates out of central/southern Jebel al-

Zawiyah

• Founded December 2011

• Lead by Lt. Alaa Hussein

• Named after a Syrian Nationalist leader

• Directly linked to the Idlib Military Council

• Likely member of the Idlib Revolutionary

Council arms network

al Sham

Although there is no evidence of a hierarchal chain of command across rebel groups in Jebel

al-Zawiyah, the participation of multiple groups in two raids in late May 2012 and late June

2012 does indicate joint planning and coordination.

Six Confirmed Suqour al-Sham attacks

March 11, 2012 – May 1, 2012. Six Confirmed Suqour al-Sham attacks

May 2, 2012 –July 13, 2012.

Sarjah

Ariha Ariha

Sarjah

Khan Subul Mughara

Rami

Suqour al-Sham attacks have shifted from their home village of Sarjah and the

closest urban center, Ariha, to towns up to 11 kilometers away.

A single IED destroys a tank in Ariha, early June

ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun in Rami, Mid July Mounted Anti-aircraft gun in Khan Subul, late June Downed Helicopter Burns in Khan Subul, late June

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