Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz
Armed group based in the Quneitra Governorate of Syria
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Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz, originally formed as Ahrar al-Sharkas (Arabic: كتيبة أحرار ألشركس, The Free Circassian Battalion), is an armed group based in the Quneitra Governorate of Syria with some fighters in the Latakia Governorate. The group is made up of ethnic Circassians from Beer Ajam. The group came to prominence during the Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14).
| Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz | |
|---|---|
| كتيبة أحرار ألشركس | |
The group uses the flag of Adygea which is representative of Circassian identity | |
| Leaders | Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy |
| Dates of operation | February 2013 — present [1] |
| Headquarters | Beer Ajam, Quneitra Governorate |
| Active regions | Quneitra Governorate and Latakia Governorate |
| Part of |  Ajnad al-Kavkaz (since 2014) |
| Allies |  Al-Nusra Alwiya al-Furqan Free Syrian Army Islamic Front |
| Opponents |  Ba'athist Syria
(until 2024)  Hezbollah Russia |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War[2] |
History
The group was founded by a local from Beer Ajam of Circassian descent who goes by the nom de guerre Abu Hatab al-Sharkassy who has expressed support for the Caucasus Emirate. In 2014 he declared allegiance to Ajnad al-Kavkaz, thus making Ahrar al-Sharkas part of it and moved some fighters to the Latakia Governorate to be closer to the central core of Ajnad al-Kavkaz.[3] After their declaration of allegiance to Ajnad Al-Kavkaz, Ajnad Al-Kavkaz officially recognized itself as active in the Quneitra Governorate.[4] The group chose to remain neutral in the conflict between ISIL and other rebel groups. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, a part of the group went to Ukraine to fight against Russia alongside Ajnad al-Kavkaz.[5]