Eighth Brigade (Syria)

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Eighth Brigade
اللواء الثامن
Leaders Ahmad al-Awda [1]
SpokesmanMohammed al-Hourani [2]
Dates of operation2018–2025
Headquarters Bosra, Syria [3]
Active regions Daraa Governorate, Syria [4]
As-Suwayda Governorate, Syria [5]
Size~1,500 as of June 2020 [6]
Part of 5th Corps (until 2024)
Southern Operations Room (2024–2025)
Allies Central Committees [4]
OpponentsIslamic State flag.svg  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [4]
Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria (until 2025)
Sheikh al-Karama Forces [5]
Battles and wars Syrian Civil War

The Eighth Brigade was a unit of the 5th Corps established in 2018 in the Daraa Governorate, Syria during the Syrian civil war, composed primarily of rebels who had reconciled with the Assad regime in 2018. The faction joined the Southern Operations Room in December 2024 following the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives and disbanded in April 2025 after the killing of Bilal al-Droubi.

Contents

Background

The Eighth Brigade originated as the Syrian rebel group Youth of Sunna Forces, which was initially led by Ahmad al-Awda until Mohammed Tohme and his deputy Bilal al-Droubi were given control of the group by the factions' leadership council in August 2016. [7] Al-Awda regained control of the group and the city of Bosra later that month with the support of the Yarmouk Army. [8]

History

Following a marked increase in regime activity in the summer of 2018, [1] al-Awda negotiated a settlement with Russia and was given control of his own brigade. [9] The faction worked closely with Russian military police and their joint area of control was more peaceful compared to other areas of the governorate. [6] Russia ended support for the group in 2021 and it affiliated with the Military Intelligence branch in Suwayda. [4]

The Eighth Brigade and Central Committees were engaged in a 10-day operation against ISIS in the city of Jasim in October 2022. [10]

The brigade was involved in "fierce battles" with ISIS in various Daraa neighborhoods, including Tariq al-Sad and al-Mukhayam, in November 2022, alongside allied "local factions." [11]

The brigade joined the Southern Operations Room in December 2024, affiliated with the Syrian opposition and was one of the factions that marched on Damascus, leading to its fall that month. [12]

Dissolution

On 10 April 2025, members of the brigade confronted Bilal al-Droubi, who had recently joined the Ministry of Defense, arresting him and shooting him multiple times. [13] Al-Droubi died two days later. [13]

On 11 April, following the attack on al-Droubi, large reinforcements from General Security were sent towards Eighth Brigade positions in eastern Daraa, taking control of checkpoints and confiscating weapons in Al-Sahwah, Al-Musayfirah, Saida, Al-Hirak, Ghabagheb, and Khirbet Ghazaleh. [13] [14] Later, Daraa governor Anwar al-Zoubi and other regional Syrian officials negotiated with Eighth Brigade leaders and local dignitaries in Bosra Citadel, reaching an agreement to hand over individuals wanted in killing al-Droubi. [8]

On 12 April, General Security convoys carrying 1,200 soldiers entered the brigade's headquarters in Bosra to search for weapon depots and to transfer prisoners to Daraa city. [15] [16] An anonymous Eighth Brigade commander said that al-Awda considered fighting against the government, but decided against it because it would be a "losing battle". [16] Additionally, hundreds of demonstrators demonstrated against the Eighth Brigade in Bosra, and mosque loudspeakers in several towns in eastern Daraa broadcast calls for pressuring brigade leaders into handing over those responsible for al-Droubi's death and for brigade members to hand in their weapons. [15] [2]

On 13 April 2025, Eighth Brigade spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed al-Hourani issued a statement announcing the dissolution of the Eighth Brigade, adding that it would hand over all "human and military capabilities" to the Ministry of Defense. [2] Following this, General Security confiscated the brigade's heavy equipment, which included tanks, armored personnel carriers, and anti-tank weapons, from their headquarters in Bosra, [17] and took control of facilities and prisons formerly run by the brigade. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Walid Al Nofal (1 September 2022). "Daraa negotiating committees gutted by assassinations, departures". Syria Direct . Translated by Mateo Nelson. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eighth Brigade in Daraa dissolves itself". Enab Baladi . 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Central committees reach agreement with 8th Brigade in Syria's Daraa". North Press Agency. Qamishli. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Walid Al Nofal (3 November 2022). "Former opposition and military security-linked groups battle 'IS cells' in Daraa". Syria Direct . Translated by Mateo Nelson. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Lack of Governance in Southern Syria: The tension, and the reconciliation between the Sunnis of Daraa and the Druze of Al-Suwayda (Case #2)". Alma Research and Education Center. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 Abdullah Al-Jabassani (1 June 2020). "Rampant violence, military escalation, and the role of intermediaries in Daraa, Syria". Middle East Institute . Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 ""Military coup" in rebel-held Syria town". NOW News . 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Daraa: Agreement ends tension in Busra al-Sham". Enab Baladi . 12 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "Russian-backed "Fifth Corps" extends its control in southern Syria". Enab Baladi . 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Khaled al-Jeratli (10 November 2022). "Suicide bombing of Daraa al-Balad mixes cards, mutual accusations and ambiguous loyalties". Enab Baladi . Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Fierce battles in Daraa al-Balad Between ISIS and Local Factions". The Syrian Observer. Orient News. 15 November 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  12. ↑ Ahmad Sharawi (9 December 2024). "Analysis: Who liberated Damascus? Unpacking the Southern Operations Room's emergence". The Long War Journal . Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "Syria faction leader killed by Eighth Brigade in Daraa security forces clash". The New Arab . 12 April 2025. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  14. ↑ "حصري.. حلّ اللواء الثامن في درعا وقرار بتسليم مقدراته لوزارة الدفاع السورية". Syria TV . 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  15. 1 2 "«اللواء الثامن» بدرعا يحل نفسه... ويسلّم مقدراته لـ«الدفاع» السورية". Asharq Al-Awsat (in Arabic). 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  16. 1 2 Khaled Yacoub Oweis (14 April 2025). "Powerful southern Syrian militia disbands under pressure from government". The National . Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  17. ↑ Mohamed Kerkes (14 April 2025). "تصاعد وتيرة الاستهدافات في درعا وسط انسحاب آليات تابعة لـ"اللواء الثامن" من بصرى الشام". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed . Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
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