Formed: September 2013

Disbanded: January 2017

First Attack: February 2014: Jund al-Aqsa attacked civilians and Syrian army soldiers in Maan, a predominantly Alawite village in the Hama governorate. The U.S. State Department referred to this attack as a civilian massacre in a statement designating Jund al-Aqsa as a foreign terrorist organization (60+ killed, unknown wounded).[1]

Last Attack: September 2016-January 2017: Jund al-Aqsa repeatedly fought with Ahrar al-Sham and other rebel groups. At the end of this conflict, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham disavowed Jund al-Aqsa, breaking it apart (unknown killed, unknown wounded) .[2]

Executive Summary

Jund al-Aqsa was initially led by Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Qatari as a faction within Al Qaeda’s (AQ) Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Nusra). Jund al-Aqsa splintered from Al-Nusra in September 2013 in response to tension between Al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS). Although the group left Al-Nusra in 2013, Jund al-Aqsa continued to affirm its allegiance to Al-Nusra and AQ central command. In addition to direct cooperation with Al-Nusra, Jund al-Aqsa coordinated attacks with the group as part of the Jaysh al-Fatah umbrella organization until it left this collaboration over ideological differences in October 2015.  Jund al-Aqsa began coordinating attacks against the Syrian army with IS in early 2016 but still remained loyal to AQ and Al-Nusra, now known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS). In mid-2016, Jund al-Aqsa merged with JSF, though conflict soon erupted over Jund al-Aqsa’s aggression toward JSF allies, such as Ahrar al-Sham. These internal tensions effectively disbanded the organization. Some militants remained in JFS while others splintered off into other groups, including a new IS-aligned offshoot known as Liwa al-Aqsa.

Group Narrative

Jund al-Aqsa (formerly known as Sarayat al-Quds) was formed in 2012 by Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Qatari as a subunit within Al Qaeda’s (AQ) Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Nusra).[3]  In response to tensions between Al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS), Jund al-Aqsa splintered from Al-Nusra in September 2013 after Al Nusra began experiencing problems: unsustainable growth, rising debt, and weakened capacity from conflict with IS.[4] After the group’s split from Al-Nusra in 2013, Jund al-Aqsa continued to affirm its allegiance to AQ central command and Abu Muhammad al-Julani, leader of Al Nusra’s successor group Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JSF). Jund al-Aqsa remained active predominantly in Syria’s Idlib and Hama governorates.[5]

In early 2014, Jund al-Aqsa began to coordinate its first independent attacks since establishing itself as an autonomous organization. The most prominent of these attacks occurred in February when Jund al-Aqsa targeted Syrian army soldiers in Maan, a predominantly Alawite village in the Hama governorate.[6] Though idependent, Jund al-Aqsa still coordinated the majority of its attacks with Jabhat al-Nusra. In 2015, the two groups co-founded the Jaysh al-Fatah umbrella organization, along with Ahrar al-Sham and four other small brigades.[7] As part of Jaysh al-Fatah, Jund al-Aqsa helped seize the city of Idlib from the Assad regime for the first time in the Syrian conflict in March 2015, and it eventually expelled the Syrian government from the Idlib governorate in June 2015.[8] Despite a series of successful military campaigns with Jaysh al-Fatah, Jund al-Aqsa left the umbrella group in October 2015 due to misgivings about fighting the Islamic State and Ahrar al-Sham’s tactics.[9]

In 2016, Jund al-Aqsa began coordinating military attacks with the Islamic State, and many Jund al-Aqsa members began to support IS efforts to establish a caliphate in Syria. However, the group as a whole did not openly express support for the caliphate.[10] Despite increasing ties to IS, Jund al-Aqsa maintained a close relationship with Al Nusra. When Al Nusra ended its affiliation with Al Qaeda and became Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS), Jund al-Aqsa released a statement expressing hope that JFS would establish “rule of shariah” in Syria.[11]

Like JFS, Jund al-Aqsa often coordinated its attacks with moderate Syrian opposition groups, such as the Free Syrian Army.[12] However, both Jund al-Aqsa and JFS began targeting the moderate Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF) after the SRF labeled the groups as apostates and kidnapped and killed some of their foreign fighters. Jund al-Aqsa and JFS responded to these killings with a successful campaign to destroy the SRF in the Idlib governorate.[13]

In September 2016, Jund al-Aqsa attempted to assassinate a member of Ahrar al-Sham’s leaderhip in Idlib using a suicide bomb; heavy clashes between the two groups rapidly followed.[14] This fighting was brought to a momentary halt with a ceasefire that was to ostensibly be lengthened under the guidance of shariah courts, but the clashes soon resumed.[15] By early October, dozens of moderate groups had offered support to Ahrar al-Sham.[16] Meanwhile, Jund al-Aqsa turned to its own allies and pledged an oath of allegiance to JFS, which was accepted on October 9, 2016. This appeared to have no moderating effect on Jund al-Aqsa, and the group continued its conflict against Ahrar al-Sham. Criticism of JFS from the rest of the Syrian opposition mounted as violence persisted.[17] Through the end of the year, Jund al-Aqsa periodically skirmished with Ahrar and other groups.[18]

In January 2017, armed conflict between Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham broke out again.[19] On January 20, Ahrar al-Sham began a campaign to “annihilate” Jund al-Aqsa in reaction to alleged foul play.[20] With these latest attacks on Ahrar al-Sham, Jund al-Aqsa had finally exceeded JFS’ tolerance; JFS disavowed Jund al-Aqsa’s actions and expelled the group from its ranks.[21] By late January, Jund al-Aqsa broke apart. Some militants remained loyal to JFS, while a significant number of other members joined the new IS-aligned offshoot calling itself Liwa al-Aqsa.[22] Several militants chose to remain neutral in the split and elected not to join JFS or Liwa a-Aqsa, It appears that these neutral elements of Jund al-Aqsa created a group called Ansar al-Tawhid, which then joined Hurras al-Din.[23]

[1] “More Syrians flee besieged Homs Old City.” BBC. 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016. “State Department Terrorist Designation of Jund al-Aqsa.” U.S. State Department. U.S. State Department, 20 Sep. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016.

[2] “Continued Clashes between Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 11, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=52082. “After Failed Efforts to End the Dispute... Fierce Clash between Ahrar Al-Sham against Jund Al-Aqsa in Several Towns, Villages and Cities in the Countryside of Idlib.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51894. “Violent Clashes in Kafrsajna at the Southern Countryside of Idlib Continue between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51905. “Several Factions Announce a Military and Security Standing with the Islamic Movement of Ahrar Al-Sham against the ‘Aggressor’ Jund Al-Aqsa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 8, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51913. “Tensions between the Major Factions in the Border between Idlib and West of Aleppo and Renewed Trooping between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), January 24, 2017, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59708. “Fateh Al-Sham Front Mediate in a Prisoner Exchange between the Fighting Factions in Idlib and Absolves Jund Al-Aqsa after about Three and a Half Months of Their ‘Swear of Allegiance.’” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), January 24, 2017, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59688. “Syria Situation Report: January 19 - January 26, 2017,” Syria Direct, accessed August 22, 2018, https://syriadirect.org/news/syria-situation-report-january-19-january-….

[3] Hussein, Tam. “Why Did Jund Al-Aqsa Join Nusra Front in Taking Out ‘Moderate’ Rebels in Idlib?” Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 11 Jun. 2014. Web. 23 Sep. 2016.

[4] Hussein, Tam. “Why Did Jund Al-Aqsa Join Nusra Front in Taking Out ‘Moderate’ Rebels in Idlib?” Huffington Post. 11 Jun. 2014. Web. 5 July 2019. < https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tam-hussein/nusra-front_b_6112790.html…;.

[5] Lister, Charles. “Al Qai’da Plays a Long Game in Syria.” CTC Sentinel. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, Sep. 2015. Web. 23 Sep. 2016. Lund, Aron. “The Other Syrian Peace Process.” Syria In Crisis. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Sep. 2016.

[6] “More Syrians flee besieged Homs Old City.” BBC.  10 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016. “State Department Terrorist Designation of Jund al-Aqsa.” U.S. State Department. 20 Sep. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016.

[7] “Syria Frontlines Update.” Syria Conflict Mapping Project. The Carter center, 9 Oct. 2015. Web. 13 May. 2016.

[8] Joscelyn, Thomas. “Jihadist coalition captures checkpoints around city of Idlib.” The Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies, 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 25 Sep. 2016. Graham-Harrison, Emma. "Blow for Assad as Islamist Militants Take Strategically Important City of Idlib." The Guardian. The Guardian, 28 Mar. 2015. Web. 9 Sept. 2015. “Syria Frontlines Update.” Syria Conflict Mapping Project. The Carter Center, 9 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[9] Joscelyn, Thomas. “Al Qaeda front group claims success in key Syrian town.” The Long War Journal. Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, 5 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[10] Joscelyn, Thomas. “State Department adds al Qaeda front group in Syria to terror designation list.” The Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies, 20 Sep. 2016. Web. 26 Sep. 2016.

[11] Al-Tamimi, Aymenn. “Al Qai’da Uncoupling: Jabhat Al-Nusra’s Rebranding as Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham. CTC Sentinel. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, 22 Aug. 2016. Web. 26 Sep. 2016.

[12] Fadel, Leith. “ISIS, rebels attack the Syrian Army together in Southeast Aleppo.” Al-Masdar News. Al-Masdar News, 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[13] Hussein, Tam. “Why Did Jund Al-Aqsa Join Nusra Front in Taking Out ‘Moderate’ Rebels in Idlib?” Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 11 Jun. 2014. Web. 23 Sep. 2016.

[14] “Syria Situation Report: September 2 - September 8, 2016,” Syria Direct, accessed August 27, 2018, https://syriadirect.org/news/syria-situation-report-september-2-septemb….

[15] “Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham Reach an Agreement.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), September 5, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=50259. “Tension Is Taking over Idlib Countryside after Clashes between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51891. “After Failed Efforts to End the Dispute... Fierce Clash between Ahrar Al-Sham against Jund Al-Aqsa in Several Towns, Villages and Cities in the Countryside of Idlib.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51894. “Casualties for Ahrar Al-Sham during the Control of Jund Al-Aqsa on a Village in the Countryside of Idlib.” The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights (blog), October 8, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51940.

[16] “Several Factions Announce a Military and Security Standing with the Islamic Movement of Ahrar Al-Sham against the ‘Aggressor’ Jund Al-Aqsa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 8, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51913.

[17] Evan says, “Amid Infighting, Jund Al Aqsa Swears Allegiance to Al Qaeda’s Rebranded Branch | FDD’s Long War Journal,” accessed August 22, 2018, //www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/10/amid-infighting-jund-al-aqsa-sw…. “Jund Al-Aqsa: The Disappearance of a ‘Third-Way’ Faction in Syria’s Conflict,” Jamestown, accessed August 22, 2018, https://jamestown.org/program/jund-al-aqsa-disappearance-third-way-fact…. “Syria Rebels Outraged as Fateh Al-Sham Sides with ‘IS Front Group,’” Middle East Eye, accessed August 22, 2018, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/nusra-jund-al-aqsa-merger-838041746.

[18] “Tension in Khan Shaykhun City between an Islamic Movement and Jund Al-Aqsa after Clashes between Both Parties.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), December 29, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=58021. “Tension Return between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham in the Countryside of Idlib and Shooting in Al-Suwaidaa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 22, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=52997.

[19] “Friction Deepens among Al Qaeda Factions in Syria,” The National, accessed August 22, 2018, https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/friction-deepens-among-al-qaeda-fact…. “Syria Situation Report: January 19 - January 26, 2017,” Syria Direct, accessed August 22, 2018, https://syriadirect.org/news/syria-situation-report-january-19-january-….

[20] “Syria Situation Report: January 19 - January 26, 2017,” Syria Direct, accessed August 22, 2018, https://syriadirect.org/news/syria-situation-report-january-19-january-…. “Analysis: Why Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham Is Lashing Out at Syrian Rebels,” Syria, accessed August 27, 2018, https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/01/27/analysis-why-jabha…. “Syrian Rebel Alliances Shatter as Former Al-Qaeda Group Attacks FSA,” Middle East Eye, accessed August 27, 2018, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/former-al-qaeda-militants-launch-ass…. “Syrian Rebels Threaten to ‘annihilate’ Rivals as Idlib Infighting Rages,” Middle East Eye, accessed August 27, 2018, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/rebel-fighting-idlib-increases-tensi….

[21] Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham Removes Jund Al-Aqsa from its Ranks: Jihad Intel,” accessed August 22, 2018, http://jihadintel.meforum.org/205/jabhat-fatah-al-sham-removes-jund-al-…. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “The Formation of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Wider Tensions in Syria’s Insurgency,” Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, accessed August 6, 2018, http://www.aymennjawad.org/19690/the-formation-of-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-….

[22] Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “The Formation of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Wider Tensions in Syria’s Insurgency,” Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, accessed August 6, 2018, http://www.aymennjawad.org/19690/the-formation-of-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-….

[23] “Details on ‘Ansar Al-Tawhid’, a Recently Established Military Faction in Idlib Province,” Aleppo24 English (blog), May 1, 2018, http://en.aleppo24.com/details-on-ansar-al-tawhid-a-recently-establishe…. Joško Barić, “Syrian War Daily – 26th of April 2018,” Syrian War Daily (blog), April 26, 2018, https://syrianwardaily.com/2018/04/26/syrian-war-daily-26th-of-april-20….

Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.

February 2014: Jund al-Aqsa attacked civilians and Syrian army soldiers in Maan, a predominantly Alawite village in the Hama governorate. The U.S. State Department referred to this attack as a civilian massacre in a statement designating Jund al-Aqsa as a foreign terrorist organization (60+ killed, unknown wounded).[1]

December 15, 2014: Jund al-Aqsa coordinated with Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army to capture a Syrian army base at Wadi al-Deif in the Idlib Governorate. The opposition groups took 15 Syrian army soldiers prisoner (43 killed, unknown wounded).[2]

March 2015: Jund al-Aqsa coordinated with Al-Nusra and the Jaysh al-Fatah umbrella organization to seize the city of Idlib from the Assad regime. It was the first time that opposition groups controlled the city of Idlib since the outbreak of the civil war. The battle was part of a successful Jaysh al-Fatah campaign to push the Assad regime out of the Idlib governorate by June 2015 (unknown casualties).[3]

February 22, 2016: Jund al-Aqsa coordinated with the Islamic State and the Free Syrian Army to capture the Rasm al-Nafal, a village on the Khanasser-Aleppo road. The Syrian army had controlled the village, and seizing it would cut off the Assad regime’s only supply line to the Aleppo governorate. The Syrian army coordinated with Hezbollah and other pro-regime forces to successfully recapture Rasm al-Nafal and other opposition-held areas during the seven-day Khanasser offensive (237 killed, unknown wounded).[4]

August 30, 2016: Jund al-Aqsa coordinated with the Free Syrian Army to push the Syrian army out of Halfaya, a town in the northern part of the Hama governorate. The attack began after Jund al-Aqsa suicide bombers stormed Syrian army outposts. The Assad regime responded with a series of airstrikes against opposition outposts (20+ killed, unknown wounded).[5]

September 2016-January 2017: Jund al-Aqsa repeatedly fought against Ahrar al-Sham and other rebel groups. At the end of this conflict, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham disavowed Jund al-Aqsa, breaking it apart (unknown killed, unknown wounded).[6]

[1] “More Syrians flee besieged Homs Old City.” BBC. BBC, 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016. “State Department Terrorist Designation of Jund al-Aqsa.” U.S. State Department. U.S. State Department, 20 Sep. 2016. Web. 24 Sep. 2016.

[2] “Syria conflict: Rebels capture key Idlib army bases.” BBC News. BBC, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[3] Joscelyn, Thomas. “Jihadist coalition captures checkpoints around city of Idlib.” The Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies, 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 25 Sep. 2016. Graham-Harrison, Emma. "Blow for Assad as Islamist Militants Take Strategically Important City of Idlib." The Guardian. The Guardian, 28 Mar. 2015. Web. 9 Sept. 2015. “Syria Frontlines Update.” Syria Conflict Mapping Project. The Carter Center, 9 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[4] Fadel, Leith. “ISIS, rebels attack the Syrian Army together in Southeast Aleppo.” Al-Masdar News. Al-Masdar News, 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Sep. 2016. “Were killed by regime forces and gunmen loyal to her the ‘Islamic State’ and other factions during the recent attack on the road to Aleppo strategic supply-Khanasser-archeological.” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 3 Mar. 2016. Web. 25 Sep. 2016. Tomson, Chris. “SouthFront: “400 ISIS fighters and 87 Syrian soldiers die in Aleppo offensive.” Al Masdar News. Al Masdar News, 3 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[5] Al-Khalidi, Suleiman. “Syrian rebels make gains in Northern Hama province, capture strategic town.” Reuters. Thomas Reuters, 30 Aug. 2016. Web. 25 Sep. 2016.

[6] “Continued Clashes between Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 11, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=52082. “After Failed Efforts to End the Dispute... Fierce Clash between Ahrar Al-Sham against Jund Al-Aqsa in Several Towns, Villages and Cities in the Countryside of Idlib.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51894. “Violent Clashes in Kafrsajna at the Southern Countryside of Idlib Continue between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 7, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51905. “Several Factions Announce a Military and Security Standing with the Islamic Movement of Ahrar Al-Sham against the ‘Aggressor’ Jund Al-Aqsa.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), October 8, 2016, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51913. “Tensions between the Major Factions in the Border between Idlib and West of Aleppo and Renewed Trooping between Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), January 24, 2017, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59708. “Fateh Al-Sham Front Mediate in a Prisoner Exchange between the Fighting Factions in Idlib and Absolves Jund Al-Aqsa after about Three and a Half Months of Their ‘Swear of Allegiance.’” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (blog), January 24, 2017, http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59688. “Syria Situation Report: January 19 - January 26, 2017,” Syria Direct, accessed August 22, 2018, https://syriadirect.org/news/syria-situation-report-january-19-january-….