Syrian Martyrs' Brigade

Union of Martyrs of Syria Battalions and Brigades
تجمع كتائب وألوية شهداء سوريا Participant in Syrian Civil War
Official logo of the Syrian Martyrs' Brigade
Active	June 2012 – 5 May 2015
Groups	Martyrs of Mount Zawiya Battalion
Leaders	Jamal Maarouf
Headquarters	Jabal Zawiya, Idlib Governorate, Syria
Area of operations	Hama Governorate, Idlib Governorate and Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Strength	7,000–12,000
Part of	Free Syrian Army Idlib Military Council Syria Revolutionaries Front
Allies	Saudi Arabia Turkey Qatar Islamic Front Army of Mujahedeen Sham Legion Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar al-Nusra Front
Opponents	Syrian Armed Forces Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant al-Nusra Front (since September 2014)
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011–March 2012) Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013) Battle of Aleppo 2014 Idlib offensive Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict

Free Syrian Army

Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Martyrs' Brigade, full name Union of Martyrs of Syria Battalions and Brigades (Arabic: تجمع كتائب وألوية شهداء سوريا‎‎), was a unit of the Free Syrian Army and the Syria Revolutionaries Front which is active in Idlib Governorate. The unit was formed early during the Syrian civil war in order to fight against the Syrian Government.

The Martyrs of Mount Zawiya Battalion was formed on 15 December 2011, operating from the 33 villages that make up the rural Jabal Zawiya region south-west of Idlib. By July 2012, as the group expanded its size and operating territory from the Turkish border in the north to Hama in the south, it had changed its name and merged with other groups.

Led by Jamal Maarouf (also known as Abu Khalid), who once hunted and worked in construction, and was one of the first men in the area to take up arms against the Syrian security forces, the group has grown to become one of the largest rebel factions in Idlib Governorate.

Unlike the other major rebel group that operates out of Jabal Zawiya, Suqour al-Sham, the Martyrs of Mount Zawiya Battalion has been tied closely to the Idlib Military Council, a provincial-level military structure that integrates different rebel groups. The Syrian Martyrs' Brigade has traditionally relied on its support from local communities, and much of their weapons has been captured from government forces or purchased from corrupt army units, but it has been reported that the group also receives funds and weaponry from Saudi Arabia.