Continuing in the series on units of the Local Defence Forces (LDF), the next LDF unit for consideration is Liwa al-Ahrar (“Brigade of the Free”).*
Liwa al-Ahrar was formed around two years ago and is directly affiliated with Hezbollah. Thus, matters like salaries and training of fighters are overseen by ‘hujjaj’ (senior personnel) from Hezbollah. Liwa al-Ahrar can offer taswiyat al-wad’ (‘sorting out of affairs/regularizing status’) for a potential recruit, but the recruit’s situation and motives for joining are considered first. For Liwa al-Ahrar, the most important motive for joining the group is to wage jihad.
Liwa al-Ahrar is led by a person who goes by the name of Abu Ja’afar al-Hamawi. As the name suggests, Abu Ja’afar is originally from Hama province. In fact, Liwa al-Ahrar is based out of Hama.
Liwa al-Ahrar has fought in a number of areas, including Suwayda’, Idlib countryside, Ithiriya, Palmyra and the al-Mayadeen area in Deir az-Zor province near the border with Iraq. The group has also undertaken assignments in the north Hama countryside on the frontlines with the areas held by the insurgents, in particular the al-Zalaqiyat and Halfaya areas near al-Latamana. Recent fighting on these north Hama fronts has led to the wounding of some fighters from Liwa al-Ahrar.
Below are some photos concerning Liwa al-Ahrar.
On left, Abu Ja’afar al-Hamawi. On right: Simon al-Wakil, who heads the National Defence Forces in the north Hama town of Mahrada. |
Abu Ja’afar al-Hamawi with cleric Abd al-Salam al-Harash. |
Liwa al-Ahrar in the al-Zalaqiyat area of north Hama. Photo from June 2018. |
Liwa al-Ahrar in Deir az-Zor. Photo from 2017. |
*Alternatively, ‘Quwat Abu Ja’afar’ (‘Forces of Abu Ja’afar’), in reference to the formation’s leader.
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi is a research fellow at Middle East Forum’s Jihad Intel project.
