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Al-Bab Military Council

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Al-Bab Military Council
مجلس الباب العسكري
LeadersJamal Abu Juma
Dates of operation14 August 2016 – present
Group(s)
  • Al-Bab Revolutionary Front
  • Qebasin Martyrs Brigade
  • Army of Revolutionaries (elements)
  • Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion
  • Free Arima Battalion
  • Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade
  • Kieba Martyrs Brigade
  • Female Battalion
HeadquartersManbij
Active regionsManbij District and eastern al-Bab District
AlliesUnited States
Russia
Battles and wars

The al-Bab Military Council (BMC) is an ethnically mixed force of the Syrian Democratic Forces, consisting of Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen militias from northern Aleppo Governorate. The BMC currently maintains a presence in several villages west of Manbij, though its stated goal is to capture al-Bab, currently under the Syrian Interim Government.

History

The al-Bab Military Council was formed on 14 August 2016 by seven small SDF-affiliated factions with the goal of capturing the city of al-Bab, which they described as "a symbol of the revolution and the foundation for a democratic, free and plural Syria". It called for US military support. Afrin-based SDF forces, cut off from the rest of the SDF by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, launched an offensive in the countryside west of al-Bab in September.[2][3] Amid the Battle of al-Bab and the wider Operation Euphrates Shield, the BMC fought alongside the People's Protection Units (YPG) against the Islamic State and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) in an attempt to capture al-Bab before Turkey did.[4] The BMC and its allies were unable to reach the city.[5] Since then, the BMC has frequently reiterated its intention to end the Turkish occupation of the region.[6][7][8][9]

As clashes between the SDF and the Turkish-backed forces increased in March 2017, the SDF made a deal with the Syrian government and agreed to the posting of loyalist Syrian border guards in SDF-held areas to defuse tensions.[10][11] The BMC coordinated with these border guards to counter attacks by the TFSA.[11] The group maintained a presence in several villages that bordered on Turkish-held territories, and repeatedly clashed with Turkish-backed forces.[12]

After the village of Arima was formally placed under Syrian Army control on 25 December 2018 following a deal between the SDF and the Syrian government,[13][14] the BMC (along with the Manbij Military Council and Kurdish Front) was one of the SDF units which maintained a presence in the village.[15] In early January 2019, several clashes took place between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA, previously known as the TFSA) and the BMC near Arima.[16][17] In response, BMC fighters, led by their commander Jamal Abu Juma, conducted joint patrols with Russian Armed Forces soldiers in the area where the joint SDF-Syrian Army zone bordered on Turkish-held territories.[18][19] Sporadic fighting continued between the BMC and SNA.[20]

Structure

The BMC initially consisted of seven militias, two Arab units (Al-Bab Revolutionary Front and Free Arima Battalion), two Kurdish groups (Qebasin Martyrs Brigade and Kieba Martyrs Brigade), one Turkmen militia (Seljuq Brigade), and two ethnically mixed units (Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion and Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade).[4]

In October 2016, an all-female battalion was established.[21] This unit started to recruit women among the refugees from al-Bab, especially those who had suffered at the hands of ISIL.[21][22][23]

Jamal Abu Juma is the commander of the BMC.[6][24][18] By February 2019, he had survived 15 assassination attempts.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Military council created for liberation of al-Bab". Rudaw. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. ^ "SYRIA: New Military Council Formed to Fight Islamic State in Al Bab August 14". The Daily Telegraph. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Turkish-backed rebels, Syrian Army and Kurdish forces all advance in race to al-Bab". al-Masdar News. 26 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  5. ^ Paul Iddon (17 January 2017). "Kurds in Iraq, Syria, outsource captured cities to militias". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b Zen Adra (16 August 2017). "Kurdish leader vows to expel Turkish-backed rebels from al-Bab". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Anniversary statement of establishment of Al-Bab military council to Al-Bab city and its countryside". SDF Press. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Al-Bab Military Council condemned Turkey's occupation practices". Hawar News Agency. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Commander in al-Bab: Al-Bab Families' Gathering is positive step towards liberation". Hawar News Agency. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  10. ^ "A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?". Verify. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Abu Juma: We coordinate with border guards responding to al-Bab calls to rid them of mercenaries". Hawar News Agency. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Hawar news agency's outline 12-6-2018". Hawar News Agency. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Breaking: Kurdish forces handover town near Manbij to Syrian Army". Al Masdar News. 25 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Assad regime forces enter YPG-held village west of Syria's Manbij". Daily Sabah. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  15. ^ ERSİN ÇAKSU (29 December 2018). "Intense traffic in Arima against occupation". ANF News. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Clashes between al-Bab Military Council, mercenaries of Turkey east of al-Bab city-Updated". ANF News. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Bab Military Council Commander: Turkish attacks target civilians". ANF News. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Bab Military Council and Russian forces go on joint patrol". ANF News. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  19. ^ "A week after the withdrawal of about 250 fighters to the east of Euphrates, Russia continues to run joint patrols with the military council of al-Bab of SDF in Manbij countryside". SOHR. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Turkey's mercenaries attacked Bab Military Council positions". ANF News. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion". 1 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  22. ^ Heing 2018, pp. 87–88.
  23. ^ Bethan McKernan (1 November 2016). "Syrian women saved from Isis by female Kurdish fighters set up their own women-only battalion". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-11-02. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Distribution battles among occupation forces in al-Bab". ANF News. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  25. ^ Veronique de Viguerie (7 February 2019). "ISIS On Brink of Territorial Defeat In Syria". Getty Images Reportage. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

Bibliography

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