Raji Falhout group

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Raji Falhout group
Dawn Forces [1]
Atil group [2]
LeadersRaji Falhout
Dates of operation2015 [2] -17 August 2022[ citation needed ]
Headquarters Slaim, Syria
Atil, Syria [3]
Active regions Al-Suwayda Governorate, Syria [4]
Size30 [5]
Opponents Al-Jabal Brigade [6]
Men of Dignity [1]
Anti-Terrorism Force [7]
Battles and wars Syrian civil war

The Raji Falhout group, named after its leader, Raji Falhout, was a government-aligned faction in Syria that was dissolved during the Syrian civil war.

History

The group was established in 2015 with the support of Military Intelligence. [2]

There were clashes between the Raji Falhout group and other groups, following the seizure of a seller and a university student in September 2021, in an attempt by the Raji Falhout group to force the release of a member of Military Intelligence who had been taken by the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF). [8] A member of the Falhout group was captured by the ATF and his confession was aired on Facebook. [7]

Members of the group clashed with the Men of Dignity in Suwayda and Atil that same month. [9]

The Raji Falhout group kidnapped university students from the town of Shahba on 26 July 2022. [10] They were arrested and charged with being members of the Syrian Brigade Party [11] and were all members of the Tawil family. Members of the family took four hostages of their own. [12] The Falhout group's headquarters in Slaim was taken over in response. Anti-government fighters additionally took control of the groups headquarters in Atil, where the student hostages were found and freed. [10] 13 fighters were reported killed, including nine fighters from Falhout group and four anti-government fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. [13] The total number of dead increased to ten government loyalists and seven opposition fighters, with 40 wounded by the next day. [14]

After numerous Raji Falhout group prisoners were tortured and killed by unknown forces, Laith al-Balous, a Druze leader, announced the release of six prisoners. His group also participated in the raids on the Falhout group headquarters in Slaim [15] and Atil. [16]

Another pro-regime faction, Salim Hamed's Al-Fahd Forces, which operated from Qanawat, was targeted the following month. [17]

References

  1. 1 2 Walid Al Nofal (27 July 2022). "Damascus silent as military security-linked 'Falhout group' is uprooted in Suwayda". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Syria's Suwayda notables appeal to al-Karama Forces to end local group's violations". North Press Agency. Suwayda. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  3. "10 killed in clashes between government, locals in Syria's Suwayda". North Press Agency. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  4. Suleiman Al-Khalidi (28 July 2022). "At least 17 dead in rare clashes in Syria's Sweida province". Reuters . Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  5. Ali Darwish; Khaled Jar’atli; Hussam al-Mahmoud; Rayan al-Atrash (3 October 2021). "Multiple conflicting forces on the ground portend possible clash in Syria's As-Suwayda". Enab Baladi . Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  6. Walid Al Nofal (19 July 2024). "Murhij al-Jarmani assassinated: A 'turning point' for Suwayda's uprising?". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  7. 1 2 Ali Eid; Khaled al-Jeratli; Hassan Ibrahim (7 October 2021). "Rise in kidnappings sparks fear among people of As-Suwayda". Enab Baladi . Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  8. Ali Eid; Khaled al-Jeratli; Hassan Ibrahim (5 July 2022). ""Wait for the next": Iran warns As-Suwayda residents as 'next' can exceed reprisals". Enab Baladi . Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  9. "Men of Dignity clash with pro-government groups in Syria's Suwayda". North Press Agency. Suwayda. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Government militia lose last headquarters in Syria's Suwayda to locals". North Press Agency. Suwayda. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  11. "Recap: Suweida Revolts Against Corruption". The Syrian Observer. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  12. Armenak Tokmajyan (29 August 2022). "Making the Druze Choose". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  13. "Syria: 13 reported killed after clashes between armed groups in Sweida". Middle East Eye. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  14. "Southern Syria clashes unearth regime-linked drug-manufacturing equipment". Al-Mashareq. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  15. Walid Al Nofal (4 August 2022). "After Falhout: Suwayda residents and factions expand action against Damascus-backed 'gangs'". Syria Direct . Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  16. Riad al-Zein (3 August 2022). "Al-Balous: Elimination of Falhout Militia Helps Eradicate Iranian Expansion in Syria's Sweida". Asharq al-Awsat . Daraa. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  17. David Isaly (17 August 2022). "Against the odds". Now Lebanon. Retrieved 15 May 2025.