5 Syrian military groups merge as Syrian Liberation Front

BAB, Syria

Five military groups operating under the Syrian National Army (SNA) in northern Syria united Thursday as the Syrian Liberation Front.

At a ceremony held in the center of Al-Bab district, the five divisions announced that they had merged and would operate side by side with the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in areas rid of terrorism following Turkey’s military operations in the region.

The Syrian Liberation Front will have around 20,000 soldiers and will be comprised of the Hamza Division, Mutasim Division and Sultan Suleyman Shah Division as well as the 20th Division and North Falcons Brigade.

Mutasim Abbas, the general commander of the newly formed military body, said five brigades were merged into a single unit and they will continue operations against terror cells, adding the front would fulfill its duties under the umbrella of the SNA.

Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas