SUMMARY

The conflict between Ahfad al Rasoul Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and PYD was a two week-long battle in July 2013. The conflict was fought in Ras al Ayn town in al Hasakah governorate. Before the clashes, Ahfad al-Rasould Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, and Islamic Kurdish Front made an announcement that they were fighting together with Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham against the PYD.

In 2013, northern Syria experienced increased violence between PYD (Partiya Yektîya Demokrat, Democratic Union Party) and Islamist groups. The violence occurred due to colliding ambitions between groups. While the Islamist groups were seeking to set up Islamic emirates, the PYD aimed to establish Kurdish governing structures. Control over the border areas was also highlighted as an important contributing factor.

Between November 2012 and July 2013, the town of Ras al Ayn experienced series of clashes between PYD and an alliance of Syrian rebel groups, both trying to take over control of the town which borders with Turkey. Named the Battle of Ras al Ayn, its clashes can be distinguished in three phases. Following the attack by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham on a PYD unit on July 16, the third phase in the series of clashes in Ras al Ayn was initiated, creating the conflict Ahfad al Rasoul Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and PYD. The conflict was active from July 16 until the end of July 2013.

In August 2013, clashes broke out between Ahfad al-Rasoul Brigade and Islamic State in al Raqqa governorate. As a result of this conflict, the alliance of Ahfad al-Rasould Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhet Fateh al-Sham came to an end.

The non-state conflict between Ahfad al Rasoul Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and PYD is first included in UCDP data in 2013. In July of that year, clashes between the warring sides had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.