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Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas

Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas
لواء أبو الفضل العباس
Participant in the Iraqi insurgency and Syrian Civil War
LiwaAbuFadlal-Abbas newlogo.png
New logo of the brigade.

Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas SSI.svg
Former SSI of the brigade.

Flag of Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas (Ceremonial).svg
Ceremonial flag used by the brigade.
Active 2012 – present
Ideology Shia Islamism
Leaders Abu Ajeeb (Secretary General)
Abu Hajar (Brigade Commander)  (WIA)
Area of operations

Syria Syria

Strength 10,000+
Allies Syrian Armed Forces
National Defense Force
Hezbollah
Kata'ib Hezbollah
Iraq Iraqi Armed Forces
LAAG
Opponents Syria Free Syrian Army
Islamic Front
Al-Nusra Front
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Battles and wars

Syria Syria

The Brigade of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas(Arabic:لواء أبو الفضل العباس, Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas), also known as the al-Abbas brigade (Arabic:كتائب العباس, Kata'ib al-Abbas), is a pro-government Twelver Shia Muslim militant group operating throughout Syria. It is named after the nickname of Al-Abbas ibn Ali, son of Imam Ali.

The group was formed in late 2012 to defend the Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque and other Shia holy sites in Syria. It rose in prominence in reaction to the desecration of various shrines, heritage sites, and places of worship by rebels during the Syrian civil war and subsequently collaborated with the Syrian Army. Its fighters include native Shia Damascenes, Damascus-based Iraqi Shia refugees, Iraqi Shia volunteers, and other foreign Shia volunteers. Iraqis form its primary constituent. It fights primarily around Damascus, but has fought in Aleppo as well.

In May and June 2013, Reuters reported a split had developed within the brigade over finances and leadership which erupted into a gunbattle. Many non-Syrian members subsequently formed a different brigade.

On 19 May 2014, fighters from the Nour al-Din al-Zanki Brigade claimed to have taken over the al-Abbas Brigade's regional headquarters in Aleppo.

As ISIS made significant gains in Iraq in mid 2014, its Iraqi members were forced to return home to defend the faltering Shi'ite led government in Baghdad.


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Wikipedia

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