Authenticity and Development Front
Alliance of rebel groups during the Syrian Civil War
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The Authenticity and Development Front (Arabic: جبهة الأصالة والتنمية, romanized: Jabhat al-'asalah wa'l-tanmiyah) was an alliance of rebel groups that was active during the Syrian Civil War. The alliance was considered to be moderate by Charles Lister (from Middle East Institute)[4] and the BBC.[20]
| Authenticity and Development Front جبهة الأصالة والتنمية[1] Jabhat al-'asalah wa'l-tanmiyah | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leaders | Khalid al-Hamad[1] |
| Dates of operation | November 2012[2]–January 2025 |
| Active regions | |
| Ideology | Sunni Islamism[4][5] non-political Salafism (disputed)[6] |
| Size | 13,000 (own claim) (2013)[7][8] 2,200-5,000 (2015)[9][4] |
| Part of |  Levant Front (2014[10]–15[11]) Mujahideen Shura Council (2014–2015) Free Syrian Army[6][12][13] Syrian National Army[14][15]
|
| Allies |  Saudi Arabia[16] Turkey Tahrir al-Sham Jaysh al-Islam Ahrar al-Sham Saraya Ahl al-Sham |
| Opponents |  Syrian Arab Armed Forces Iran Russia Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[17] Hezbollah PFLP-GC Syrian Democratic Forces |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
Background
The coalition includes Islamists, military defectors, and former civilians.[5][10][21] Although the alliance uses Syrian independence flags and symbols, it does not identify itself as part of the Free Syrian Army.[22] One of the groups involved was the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, which was also part of the Army of Mujahideen,[5] though the Army of Mujahideen announced on 4 May 2014 that the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement had withdrawn from the coalition.[23] The Authenticity and Development Front operated American-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles captured from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[24]
Member Groups
Current
- The White Shroud
- Unification Army [25]
- Army of Tawhid[26]
- Tajamuu Alwiyat al-Iman Billah
- Liwa Hamah al-Aqidah
- Tajamuu Jund al-Badr Brigade 313
- Lions of Islam Brigade
- Talbisah Brigade
- Falcons of Talbisah Brigade
- Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan Brigade
- Sword of Islam Battalion
- Tajamuu Alwiyat wa Kataib Suyuf al-Haq
- Battalions of the People of Impact[27]
- Abd Al-Rahman Battalions[28]
- Miqdad Bin al-Aswad Battalion[29]
- Division 60
- Jund al-Sham[30]
Former Groups
- Lions of the East Army[31]
- Liwa Basha’ir al-Nasr[32]
- Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement
- Liwa al-Fatah al-Mubin (Formerly part of the Allahu Akbar Battalions)[33]
- Ibn Taymiyyah Mujahideen Brigades (Joined Ahrar al-Sham)[34]
- New Syrian Army (Expelled from Authenticity and Development Front, continued operations as independent group)
- Allahu Akbar Battalions[35]
