Jabhat Ansar al-Din is a jihadist alliance that announced itself on 25 July 2014, during the Syrian Civil War. The alliance contains two groups: Harakat Sham al-Islam and Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya; it had declared that was not affiliated with any other "parties". The Green Battalion was originally a signatory, but around October 2014, it swore allegiance to the leader of Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar and was integrated into that faction. The alliance had attempted to maintain neutrality in the conflict between ISIL and other groups. On January 28, 2017, it joined with numerous other factions to form Tahrir al-Sham, though portions of it left HTS in February 2018. The groups involved in the coalition have diverse memberships; Harakat Fajr Sham al-Islamiya numbers mostly Syrians from the Aleppo area, while Harakat Sham al-Islam was formed around a core of Moroccan fighters, the Green Battalion mainly had fighters from Saudi Arabia and Jaish al-Mujahireen wal-Ansar was formed by Chechen and other Russian-speaking fighters. On 23 September 2015, Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar left and joined Jabhat al-Nusra.
Timeline
25 July 2014: Harakat Sham al-Islam, Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya, Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar and Green Battalion announced the creation of Jabhat Ansar al-Din as an alliance between the four groups.
3 October 2014: Green Battalion merged under Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar.
10 December 2016: The two remaining factions in the alliance Harakat Sham al-Islam led by Abu Mohammed al-Baydawi and Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya led by Abu Abdullah al-Shami have completely merged under Jabhat Ansar al-Din name, the leader is Abu Abdullah al-Shami.
28 January 2017: Jabhat Ansar al-Din dissolved itself and joined Tahrir al-Sham.
1 February 2018: Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya defected from Tahrir al-Sham and resumed working as an independent group under the name Ansar al-Din Front - Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya.
Groups
Harakat Sham al-Islam
Harakat Sham al-Islam is a jihadist group composed of primarily Moroccans that has been active during the Syrian Civil War. The group announced on 25 July 2014 that it became part of the Jabhat Ansar al-Din. It was designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department on 24 September 2014, by United Nations on 29 February 2016. and by Bahrain. The group was founded in August 2013 by three Moroccan detainees who had been released from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Ibrahim bin Shakran, Ahmed Mizouz and Mohammed Alami. Harakat Sham al-Islam first came to notice because of the role it played in the 2013 Latakia offensive. The following year the group was one of the three primary factions, alongside Al-Nusra Front and Ansar al-Sham, that took part in the 2014 Latakia offensive. Harakat Sham al-Islam also has a presence in Aleppo, being involved in battles for Kindi Hospital and the Aleppo Central Prison. The group's leader, Shakran, was killed in a battle with Syrian Government forces in April 2014, along with the group's military commander, Abu Safiya Al-Masri. On 12 December 2016 they fully dissolved into Jabhat Ansar al-Din.
Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya
Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya is a jihadist group that has been active during the Syrian Civil War. The group announced on 25 July 2014 that it became part of the Jabhat Ansar al-Din. On 12 December 2016, the group fully dissolved into Jabhat Ansar al-Din. On 1 February 2018, Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya left Tahrir al-Sham and began operation under the name Ansar al-Din Front - Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya On 20 June 2018, al-Murabitin Battalion, Osama Battalion, Abu Ali Yemeni Battalion and Abu Hilal Zitan Battalion left Tahrir al-Sham to join the Islamic Dawn Movement of the Levant. On 2 August 2018, Ansar al-Haqq and Abna Sharia joined. On 20 August 2018, Fursan al-Iman joined the group.
Relationship with other groups
The group has stated they desire to maintain a policy of neutrality and independence between various groups in fighting against the Syrian government as well as stating a desire to cooperate with these groups as well, prior the formation of the group the member groups did cooperate with ISIL in early 2014 in besieging the Kweiris airbase. In an interview in 2015 a representative from the group was asked about their views regarding both al-Nusra and ISIL to which the representative said regarding al-Nusra "The problem is with them, not with us: we are prepared to work with all upright factions whose goals are like ours. It is not hidden from anyone that the goals of the majority of factions are like our goals." He added when asked if al-Nusra has made mistakes on the ground "In my personal opinion indeed we all make mistakes…and perhaps in Jabhat al-Nusra’s point of view it is not necessary to establish a Caliphate while the gangs of Assad exist in Syria." When asked about the group's stance on ISIL he said "We have no relation with IS. We don’t fight them and they don’t fight us. But anyone who says that Jabhat Ansar al-Din is affiliated with IS is lying."
