SUMMARY
Syrian Revolutionaries’ Front (SRF) was a coalition of secularist and nationalist factions formed during the Syrian Civil War. It was formed on 9 December 2013, often perceived as an attempt to stem the growing Islamist influence within the Syrian opposition, particularly following the consolidation of Islamist forces within the Islamic Front. SRF retained its allegiance to the Supreme Military Council, the nominal highest command of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), at a time when the Council and the FSA appeared to have very little influence on the ground. SRF was a key instigator in the coordinated anti-IS offensives launched in Idlib and Aleppo on 3 January 2014 (see IS - Islamic Front, Mujahideen Army, SRF).
At its formation SRF was one of the largest groups active in Idlib, particularly in the Jabal az Zawiyah area. It also had a presence in Aleppo, Hamah and Homs. Over time, several other smaller factions joined, including some forming a southern branch of the group in Daraa and Quneitra governorates. The group was originally composed by the following groups: Syrian Martyrs' Brigade, Idlib Military Council, Ahrar al-Zawia Brigades, Ansar Brigades, Coming Victory Brigades, Seventh Division, Ninth Division of Aleppo, Farouq al-Shamal Battalions, Ghab Wolves Brigade, Idlib Martyrs’ Brigade, Ahrar al-Shamal Brigade, Riyad al-Salehin Battalions of Damascus, Farouq Battalions of Hama and Special Assignments Regiment of Damascus.
SRF was led by Jamal Maarouf, a Syrian nationalist well-known for his leadership of the Syrian Martyrs’ Brigade. The Syrian Martyrs’ Brigade had previously been a formidable faction in its own right, but had been in decline and had lost much of its support at the time when the SRF was formed, due to the perception of it as being corrupt, with its rivals depicting it as little more than highway robbers. Jamal Maarouf himself was given the unenviable nickname of “Jamal Makhlouf” in reference to Assad’s infamously corrupt cousin, Rami Makhlouf.
In July 2014, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (at the time known as Jabhat al-Nusra) declared an Islamic Emirate in Idlib, and launched several so-called ‘anti-corruption’ operations targeting SRF forces in the area. After several rounds of fighting in July and October-November, SRF was forced to withdraw from its former stronghold, with Jamal Maarouf being forced to flee to Turkey (see Jabhat Fateh al-Sham – SRF and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Liwa al-Aqsa – SRF). This marked a definitive weakening of the group, with most of its northern branches defecting to other groups. The southern branch of SRF joined the Southern Front’s First Army on 1 January 2015, effectively making the SRF defunct.
SRF has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence. It is also considered part of the Syrian insurgents active in the intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organized violence.
