Jaysh al-Muwahhidin
The Jaysh al-Muwahhidin (Arabic: جيش الموحدين, romanized: Jaysh al-Muwaḥḥidīn, lit. 'Army of the Unitarians') was a Druze militia group in the Syrian civil war.
| Jaysh al-Muwahhidin | |
|---|---|
Jaysh al-Muwahhideen logo Druze flag used by Jaysh al-Muwahhideen | |
| Leaders | Abu Isma'il Ibrahim al-Tamimi |
| Dates of operation | 2013–2018 |
| Active regions | Aleppo Governorate, As-Suwayda Governorate, Deraa Governorate, Damascus Governorate |
| Ideology | Protects and upholds the interests and rights of the Druze sect in Syria |
| Allies | Syrian Armed Forces Hezbollah al-Abbas brigade Ba'ath Brigades Popular Committees |
| Opponents | Free Syrian Army Islamic Front Al-Nusra Front Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War Daraa and As-Suwayda offensive (June 2015) |
The group mainly operated in the Suwayda, Deraa, Damascus and other regions where the Druze are concentrated and announced their formation in the beginning of 2013. The leadership describes the group as Unitarian Druze engaging in defensive war, but has also been described as supporters of Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government. It operated largely in the Jabal al-Druze, also known as Jabal al-Arab, a mountainous area of as-Suwayda Governorate as well as the Mount Hermon area in Damascus Governorate, areas primarily inhabited by Druze. The group was set up in response to attacks on Druze civilians. The group commemorates anticolonial figures such as Sultan al-Atrash, who was a prominent Druze chieftain.