Euphrates Liberation Brigade – Wikipedia

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade (Arabic: Liwa Tahrir al-Furat) is a mostly Arab militia that operates as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Manbij Military Council (MMC) in the Syrian civil war.

History[edit]

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade was founded in Manbij as part of the MMC in October 2016. Originally 250 men strong,^[1][3] the militia expanded over time, mostly recruiting Arabs from Manbij city and its surroundings.^[4] Several of its fighters are former Free Syrian Army (FSA) members who abandoned the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad due to the increasing Islamist radicalism among anti-government forces.^[2] Regardless, the Begin–Sadat Center has considered the militia to be still part of the FSA.^[5]

Soon after its formation, the Euphrates Liberation Brigade fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) west of Manbij during the Battle of al-Bab, in course of which it was allegedly bombed by the Turkish Air Force on 20 November.^[6] In April 2017, elements of the Euphrates Liberation Brigade were among a contingent of 200 MMC fighters that were sent to al-Thawrah in order to help the SDF to capture the city from ISIL.^[7] Under the command of Ibrahim Semho, the militia also took part in the following battle for ISIL’s self-proclaimed capital Raqqa.^[7] Other parts of the unit remained at the frontlines west of Manbij, where at least one of their fighters was captured by Turkish-backed rebels in May 2017.^[8]

Ideology[edit]

The Euphrates Liberation Brigade has been set up from the outset as ethnically inclusivist and pro-democratic. Its stated aim is to help establish a federal, democratic Syria.^[1] The militia is also opposed to radical Islamism.^[2]

References[edit]