Nascent Syrian armed group emerges to confront Israeli forces

An armed organization calling itself The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria—Great Might (formerly known as The Front for the Liberation of the South) has issued statements warning the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from southern Syria and the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. The group has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against the IDF in south Syria.

On January 7, the Front for the Liberation of the South announced its formation as a resistance movement, emphasizing that it comprises various segments of the Syrian population and has no allegiances to any political organizations. The group issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Israel demanding the IDF withdraw from southern Syria; otherwise, it threatened to confront Israel militarily using equipment seized from the Assad regime.

Four days later, the group changed its name to “Awli al Bas (Great Might)—The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria.” The group claims the name change was due to other groups with the same previous name existing in the same area.

The logo adopted by the organization is an adaptation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) logo with a long arm holding an AK-47, signaling some affiliation with the other so-called muqawama (resistance) groups that have chosen similar logos.

Read more: Long War Journal