The Islamic Front

On November 22, 2013, seven rebel factions in Syria announced the creation of the Islamic Front as a united opposition force against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Under the Islamic Front, these individual groups dissolved, providing a unified message of opposition to the government of al-Assad. The group released their charter on January 21, 2014. The stated goal of the organization is to overthrow the current regime and rebuild Syria “on the sound bases of justice, independence and solidarity in accordance with the principles of Islam.” While they believe that justice can only be brought through military rebellion, they also protect Syrian religious and ethnic minorities under Sharia law. Most recently, the Islamic Front has engaged in intense fighting with the Islamic State (IS) in northwest Syria. The Islamic Front is a predominantly Syrian organization, and much of the tension between the groups stems from the radical and alienating behavior of IS foreign fighters against the local Syrian population in rebel-held areas. For more information on the Islamic Front, visit the Syria Map.