Key statistics

2014
First Recorded Activity

First Attack

Profile Last Updated

How to Cite

Crenshaw, M., & Robinson, K. (2025). Mapping Militants Project. Rice University. https://doi.org/10.25613/G0K4-WF70
Mapping Militants Project. “Jaysh al-Sham.” Last modified . https://mappingmilitants.org/node/417/

Profile Contents

Narrative

Narrative of the Organization's History

Organization

Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations

Strategy

Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics

Interactions

Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences

Maps

Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps

Main Tabs Group

Overview
Formed: 
January 1, 2014
Disbanded: 
January 1, 2014

Jaysh al-Sham (Army of the Levant) was formed in January 2014 when Suyouf al-Haq, one of Suqour al-Sham’s strongest constituent brigades, defected due to fighting between Suqour al-Sham and the Islamic State (IS) and created a new group with former IS and Suqour al-Sham fighters. Jaysh al-Sham was prominent in Idlib province, where it opposed the Assad Regime but remained neutral to Suqour al-Sham and IS. This neutrality, along with threats from the Free Syrian Army, prompted the Liwa Dawoud brigade to leave IS and join Jaysh al-Sham in Feburary 2014. However, Liwa Dawoud reportedly left Jaysh al-Sham in July 2014 due either to threats from other opposition groups or internal tension with Jaysh al-Sham. Shortly after Liwa Dawoud defected, Jaysh al-Sham disbanded.

Organization

Vertical Tabs

Strategy

Vertical Tabs

Interactions

Vertical Tabs