Hamza Division (Daraa)

The Hamza Division (Arabic: فرقة الحمزة; Firqat al-Hamza) was a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. It was based in Inkhil, Daraa Governorate. It was formed on 8 April 2013 by Colonel Saber Safar as the "Hamza Brigade".[2] It was composed of six subunits.[3] The group received U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. It was a member of the Daraa Military Council and the Southern Front.

Hamza Division
فرقة الحمزة
Firqat al-Hamza
LeadersCol. Saber Safar[1]
Dates of operation8 April 2013 – 31 July 2018[2]
Group(s)
  • Houran Mujahideen Brigade
  • Engineering Battalion
HeadquartersInkhil, Syria[3]
Active regions
Part ofFree Syrian Army
OpponentsSyrian Armed Forces

National Defense Force

 Islamic State
Battles and warsSyrian Civil War

History

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The group joined the First Army on 1 January 2015.[4] In mid-2015 the 1st Army disbanded, although the Hamza Division continued to use its imagery until 2016.[3]

On 22 September 2016, 9 commanders in the Hamza Division were assassinated in a bombing in Inkhil.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Three important Free Syrian Army factions decided, at this 2015 new year, to create the First Army". SRO. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b Lucas Winter. "A MODERN HISTORY OF THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN DARAA" (PDF). Foreign Military Studies Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. Hasan Mustafas. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b "3 فصائل مقاتلة تعلن اندماجها الكامل وتشكيل "الجيش الأول"". SOHR. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Hamza Band in Daraa mourns nine leading Angel explosion". Enab Baladi. 22 September 2016.