Syrian Martyrs' Brigades

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The Syrian Martyrs' Brigades, officially the Union of Martyrs of Syria Battalions and Brigades, was a rebel group in the Syrian Civil War. It formed in December 2011 to fight the Syrian government and was based in the Idlib region.

Leadership and structure
- The main unit was the Martyrs of Mount Zawiya Battalion, centered in Jabal Zawiya, Idlib.
- The group was led by Jamal Maarouf (Abu Khalid), a construction worker turned rebel commander.
- It grew into one of the larger rebel factions in Idlib and worked with the Idlib Military Council, a regional military body.

Where they fought and how big they were
- They operated across several governorates, including Idlib, Hama, Aleppo, Latakia, Raqqa, Damascus, and nearby areas.
- Estimated size ranged from about 7,000 to 12,000 fighters.

Affiliations and rivals
- They were part of the Free Syrian Army and later joined the Syrian Revolutionaries Front.
- They sometimes cooperated with Islamist groups on the battlefield but did not push for an Islamic state themselves.
- They had complicated relations with other groups, including ties to al-Nusra Front until 2014 and later opposition to Nusra.

Key actions and events
- By 2012 they expanded quickly, moving from the Turkish border down to Hama.
- They claimed credit for downing two MiG jets (MiG-21 and MiG-23) during attacks on a Syrian air base in 2012.
- In January 2014, they killed a senior ISIL commander, showing they were willing to strike rival jihadist groups.
- In December 2013, Maarouf and his group helped lead the Syrian Revolutionaries Front alliance.

ideology and reputation
- The group did not push a strong Islamist ideology and was rooted in Sunni rural values and Syrian nationalism.
- Its subunits often used the names of Syrian nationalist figures rather than Islamic names.

Decline and end
- Public support declined around 2013 due to perceptions of a lack of clear ideology and accusations of criminal behavior by rivals.
- The group remained active through the mid-2010s, but its influence faded as the war evolved.

In short, the Syrian Martyrs' Brigades were a large, locally rooted rebel force in Idlib and surrounding areas, led by Jamal Maarouf, that fought the Syrian government, cooperated with and against various rival groups, and emphasized Syrian nationalism over a broader Islamist agenda.