Liwa al-Quds (Arabic: لواء القدس; meaning the Jerusalem Brigade) is a predominantly Syrian Palestinian paramilitary group and Syrian Army brigade that operated as a part of pro-Syrian government forces in the Syrian Civil War. In 2019, it became a part of the Syrian Army's 5th Assault Corps.[3] It was formed in 2013 by the engineer Muhammad al-Sa'eed. The fighters who called themselves the "Syrian Arab Army Fedayeen" were active in Aleppo and Daraa.[3] The paramilitary was composed of Palestinian refugees from the Neirab camp[7] and Ein Al-Tal camp as well as reconciled rebels.[1]
By the beginning of 2015, the group had suffered 200 killed and over 400 wounded since its establishment.[4] The group supported the Syrian Army in its effort to reopen the main supply line to Aleppo in late 2015.[11]
In June 2017, Liwa al-Quds launched a recruitment campaign in Homs Governorate, where it aimed at enlisting young Palestinian refugees.[12][13]
In May 2018 Liwa al-Quds was fighting against the ISIL pocket in the desert of Deir ez-Zor Governorate as a part of joint operation with the NDF and SAA forces. Liwa al-Quds captured village of Faydat Umm Muwaynah.[14]
In July 2018, Samer Rafe, a prominent commander of the militia, was arrested in Latakia after a firefight with government forces. He had previously been arrested on charges of robbery in Aleppo, confessed to the charges, and served a prison term of one year before being released.[15]
In the first half of 2019, Liwa al-Quds suffered heavy casualties on multiple fronts, most notably during Operation Dawn of Idlib.[16] In March 2024, IS fighters ambushed a Liwa al-Quds vehicle carrying ammunition and guns in eastern Homs countryside, killing the three guards and capturing the cargo.[17]
The brigade had both Syrian Palestinian as well as native Syrian members.[10] The brigade had close connections to both Iran and Russia, and was supplied as well as trained by the Russian Armed Forces.[16][22] Its fighters referred to themselves as "Syrian Arab Army Fedayeen", showcasing their loyalty to the Syrian military.[16] Before the government victory in the Battle of Aleppo, the brigade consisted of three main battalions, which are: Lions of al-Quds Battalion, which operated in al-Nayrab camp and its surrounding as well as in southern and eastern countryside of Aleppo; the Deterrence Battalion, which operated in the north Aleppo countryside south of the villages of Nubl and Al-Zahraa; and the Lions of al-Shahba' Battalion, which operated inside Aleppo city.
By 2018, the group had started recruiting former Syrian rebels that agreed to join pro-government military units as part of reconciliation deals with the Syrian government. More than 150 former Free Syrian Army fighters had joined Liwa al-Quds by 2019. They received military training and supervision from Russian officers during the first quarter of 2019.[23] In fall 2019, Liwa al-Quds became part of the Syrian Army's 5th Assault Corps as autonomous brigade.[24][25]
^ abcdAl-Jabassini, Abdullah (2019). From Insurgents to Soldiers: The Fifth Assault Corps in Daraa, Southern Syria. Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria. European University Institute. ISBN978-92-9084-767-0.
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