13th Division (Syria)

13th Division
الفرقة 13 Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Insignia of the 13th Division.
Active	June 2013–present
Ideology	Syrian nationalism
Groups	56th Infantry Brigade Maarat al-Nu'man Martyrs Brigade Khan Shaykhun Shield Brigades Slaves of Mercy Brigade Victory Brigade Northern Shield Brigade Mustafa Brigade Imam Bukhari Brigade Victory of Saladin Brigade Knights of Justice Brigade (former, 2013–14) Ansar al-Haq Brigade (former)
Leaders	Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saud Col. Ali al-Samahi † Zaher al-Ahmad (56th Infantry Brigade) (POW) Abdul Karim Alito † Maj. Moussa al-Hamoud (Victory Brigade) Capt. Ali al-Salloum  (POW) (Victory Brigade) Maj. Abu Qusay (Khan Shaykhun Shield Brigades) Maj. Mousa al-Khaled (Victory of Saladin Brigade) Abdul Salam Najjar (Mustafa Brigade) Ahmad al-Ibrish (spokesperson) Zakaria Quitaz (media official)
Headquarters	Ma'arrat al-Numan
Area of operations	Idlib Governorate Hama Governorate Aleppo Governorate
Size	1,800+ (own claim)
Part of	Free Syrian Army Free Idlib Army Hawar Kilis Operations Room Fatah Halab (2015–2016) Mare' Operations Room (2014–2016) 5th Corps (2014–2015)
Allies	Saudi Arabia Turkey Qatar Sham Legion Ahrar ash-Sham
Opponents	Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Al-Nusra Front/Tahrir al-Sham (since November 2014) Syrian Democratic Forces
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Idlib Governorate clashes (2014) Battle of Mork Battle of Aleppo Second Siege of Wadi Deif Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Al-Nusra Front-SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict Second Battle of Maarat al-Nu'man Turkish military intervention in Syria Idlib Governorate clashes (January 2017)

Syrian Civil War

The 13th Division (Arabic: الفرقة 13‎‎) is a Syrian rebel group sanctioned by the Syrian National Council. It was among the first armed Syrian opposition groups to receive U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. The group's leader lieutenant colonel Ahmad al-Sa’oud said during an interview that the missiles were provided by the Friends of Syria, which also (according to al-Sa'oud) provided training on how to use the advanced weaponry. According to a spokesperson for the FSA's Supreme Military Council, the 13th Division is funded by sources within Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The 13th Division originated in March 2012 under the name of the "Slaves of Mercy Brigade" and grew that year to 1,000 men according to its leader Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saoud, who defected from the Syrian Army. In 2013 the group was incorporated into the Free Syrian Army as the 13th Division.

In December 2013, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) overran a Division 13 base in Kafr Nabl, seizing ammunition and weaponry. This came after a history of clashes between the two groups. The following day, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad al-Sa’oud was ambushed and kidnapped in Taftanaz by ISIS while he was trying to negotiate for their return. He was released after two weeks. The group is currently fighting the Syrian government and ISIS.

The group fought in Khan al-Asal, the Rashideen neighbourhood, and the Research Sciences Centre in Aleppo. In Idlib and Hama Governorates, the 13th Division fought at Mork, Khan Shaykhun, Heish, Qumeis, Baboulin, Wadi Al-Deif military base and Al-Hamdiyyeh military base.