SUMMARY

The conflict between Ahrar al-Sham, al-Tawhid Brigade, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and PYD took place in 2013. The conflict was mainly fought in Ras al Ayn town, as well as Mushrafa village and Tall Halaf town of al Hasakah governorate, located in northern Syria.

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.

Prior to the formation of the alliance between Ahrar al-Sham, al-Tawhid Brigade, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, clashes broke out between Ahfad al-Rasoul Brigade and Islamic State in al Raqqa governorate. As a result of the conflict, the alliance of Ahfad al Rasoul Brigade, Ahrar al-Sham, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham came to an end. On the other hand, in August 2013 al-Tawhid Brigade joined the alliance, which resulted in the creation of the non-state conflict between Ahrar al-Sham, al-Tawhid Brigade, IS, Islamic Kurdish Front, Jabhet Fateh al-Sham, and PYD.

The conflict lasted until the formation of umbrella group Islamic Front in November 2013. The Islamic Front also consisted of Ahrar al-Sham, Jash al-Islam, Suqour al-Sham, al-Tawhid Brigade, Liwa al-Haqq, Kataib Ansar al-Sham, and Kurdish Islamic Front.

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