Syria: Key Rebel Groups in Civil War

General Salim Idriss

Set up in December 2012 under the Syrian National Coalition in an effort to unite rebels backed by Western and Arab Gulf governments. Has limited control on the groud. General Idriss is a defector from the Syrian army.

Abu Abdullah al-Hamawi

Syrian Islamists. Ubcydes Ahrar al-Sham and other Salafist groups. Cooperates with SMC. Hamawi is the chair of the Collective Leader's Council

Sheikh Ahmed Issa

Coalition of Islamist groups. Independent of mainstream fighters, but works closely with them. Some leaders sit on the SMC.

Abu Muhammad al-Golani

Salafist jihadists with a global vision of an Islamist state. Mainly foreign leadership, Syrian soldiers. Linked to Al-Qaeda.

Abu Abdel Rahman al-Suri

Salafist jihadists with national aims. Cooperate with other groups. Strongest component of Syrian Islamic Front. Political leader is Abu Ayman.

Osama Sayeh al-Jinidi

A mixed bunch, raning from devout to mild Islamists. Started in Homs, now nationwide; includes Farouq al-Shamal in the north. Controls some border crossings.

Abdulkader Saleh
(Haj Marea)

Umbrella force in Aleppo, included int he Syrian Liberation Front. Its leader sits on the SMC.

Sheikh Ahmed Issa

Most powerful fighting force in Idleb. Islamist. Its leader heads the Syrian Liberation Front.

Abu Moaz al-Agha

Umbrella for Islamist factions around Damascus, including powerful Liwa al-Islam

Ziad Haj Obeid

Part of Ansar al-Islam in Damascus, where it has carried out assassinations; also has offshoot in Idleb

Omar Hilal

Islamist group with growing presence in Aleppa and Raqqa; works with all other groups

Salih Muslim

Syrian offshoot of Turkey's Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). Neither with the regime nor with the rebels. Its militias control Kurdish areas in north-east Syria.