The Syrian Free Army (SFA) (Arabic: جيش سوريا الحرة), previously known as the Revolutionary Commando Army (RCA) (Arabic: جيش مغاوير الثورة),[23] and the New Syrian Army (NSA) (Arabic: جيش سوريا الجديد), is a United States Army-trained Syrian oppositionfaction which controls territory near Syria's border with Iraq and Jordan and north into part of the country's eastern Hama governorate. It has been hosted at the US military base at al-Tanf.[23][22][24]
The group is known for corruption, which led to the U.S. Central Command dismissing its former top official Mohanad al-Tala in 2022.[26] In the aftermath, following an alleged U.S. Central Command attempt to integrate the group into the Syrian Democratic Forces, it rebranded as the Syrian Free Army.[27]
After the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, the SFA took control of about 20% of Syria, including Palmyra and the north part of Damascus.[15]
History
The New Syrian Army was established by remnants of the Allahu Akbar Brigade, part of the Authenticity and Development Front and formerly based in Abu Kamal.[28][29] The NSA was formed on 20 May 2015, and its fighters were trained in Jordan.[3]
On 16 November 2015, the New Syrian Army was deployed at al-Tanf in southeastern Syria, near Iraq and Jordan, and carried out a raid, with or without US aerial support. No further information was given.[30]
On 5 March 2016, the NSA and another FSA group, the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo, captured the al-Tanf border crossing from ISIL in a cross-border raid from Jordan.[31]
In May 2016, an Islamic State suicide attack struck an NSA base near al-Tanf, which resulted in a large number of casualties. The attack brought to the surface underlying tensions and a lack of morale within the group, whose members alleged that the US failed to provide them with the equipment promised.[16]
In June 2016, the NSA's base near al-Tanf was hit by multiple cluster bombs from Russian airstrikes, killing 2 and injuring 18.[32] Russia denied responsibility for the airstrike, although photos released by the NSA identified the bombs as Russian RBK-500 cluster bombs which were delivered from Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia.[33]
The Ghosts of the Desert (Arabic: أشباح الصحراء) was an NSA-affiliated anti-ISIL insurgent group that covertly operated in ISIL-held towns in southeastern Syria and southwestern Iraq such as Abu Kamal, Mayadin, and al-Qaim.[citation needed] Since March 2016, they initially sprayed graffiti and raised Syrian and Iraqi flags in the towns, but began to conduct covert military activities the next month, such as sabotage, assassinations of ISIL fighters, and marking positions for airstrikes. The group supplied military intelligence to the US Air Force that allowed them to kill Abu Waheeb in May 2016 in the Iraqi town of Rutbah after the group marked his location.[9]
Members of the Revolutionary Commando Army and a US Army soldier repair a water well in Al-Tanf.
Revolutionary Commando Army
In December 2016, the New Syrian Army dissolved after internal disputes. Some of its remnants regrouped under the name Revolutionary Commando Army (RCA), led by Captain Abdullah al-Zoubi.[4]
On 30 April 2017, the RCA launched an offensive into eastern Syria, reaching the Deir ez-Zor Governorate and capturing the village of Humaymah, south of the T2 pumping station.[36][37] Two days later, the rebels attacked and captured several sites in the region, including: Tarwazeh al-Wa`er, Sereit al-Wa`er, Mount Ghrab, Swab desert, al-Kamm Swab, the T3 Pumping Station, Me`izeileh and Tarwazeh al-Attshaneh.[38] On 6 May, FSA groups including the RCA captured several sites in the Badiya region of Homs Governorate to the south of Palmyra including Dahlouz and al-Halbeh areas.[39] The RCA was supplied with IAG Guardianarmoured personnel carriers by the US during the operation.[40]
In late November 2017, at least 180 fighters in the RCA were relieved of duty. According to the United States Central Command, the fighters "completed their military service", while according to the group's spokesman, they were removed due to their "weak performance". As result, between 40 and 60 fighters were left in the group.[6] The unit increased in numbers after that point, with c. 300 fighters serving with the RCA by October 2018.[13]
In 2021, reports emerged that several explosions took place in al-Tanf. The RCA stated that they came from training exercises that it was conducting in the region.[41] On 20 October 2021, the RCA, other opposition elements at al-Tanf, and the US garrison there were attacked by drones, causing no injuries.[42]
On 23 September 2022, the US-led coalition dismissed RCA's commander Brigadier General Muhannad Ahmad and replaced him with Captain Muhammad Farid, a former leader of the Qaryatayn Martyrs' Brigade. This caused a group of RCA leaders styling themselves as the military council of RCA to reject the new leader and seize control of part of the al-Tanf base, leading to a brief siege in which the military council was confronted by the main RCA group and US forces, submitting to the new leadership soon after.[2]
Syrian Free Army
Following another meeting with US forces, the group changed its name to the Syrian Free Army on 23 October 2022.[23]
On 29 February 2024, the Syrian Free Army announced the appointment of Salem Turki al-Antri as their new leader, replacing Muhammad Farid al-Qasim. The announcement was made through a statement and photos on the group's official website at the US-operated al-Tanf military base in eastern Homs Governorate. The group expressed excitement about the new opportunities al-Antri's leadership will provide.[1]
On 7 December 2024, the Syrian Free Army participated in the Palmyra offensive capturing the city, after this they moved west and fought in the Battle of Damascus alongside the Southern Operations Room, taking territory in the northern half of the city.[15]
