Guide to the Factions of the Syrian Civil War
(now with an update log!)
by Bulbajer
Wordpress … Facebook … Twitter
with much help from Sol
Other sources and resources used: Syria Research Group (@void_xeroxed, Šerif Imamagić, Ryan O'Farrell, Hasan Mustafa, Alexander Killian, Ömer Özkizilcik, Noor Nahas, Vince Beshara, Abdulelah, Hampton Stall, Yazid_Umayya, shaikh, Abdulrhman al-Masri, revolutionfarsi, Sol, LaLaKdaho, Abu Omar al-Shami, Tristan Sloughter, Ayman al-Das, Desert Fox Reporting, Wyvern, Omar al-Addem, Jens Hittrien, Yalla Souriya, Eray, DrThrax123, john_locke_next_02),
Wikipedia, Syria in Crisis (Carnegie Middle East Center), Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi’s blog, Al-Monitor, Syria Comment, Jihadology, Hasan Mustafa’s blog, Charles Lister’s Twitter, Thomas van Linge’s Twitter, this collaboration between @void_xeroxed and Ryan O’Farrell, Hassan Hassan’s Twitter, Rao Komar’s Twitter, Henry Leconte’s Twitter, MENAConflict’s Twitter, Alexander McKeever’s Twitter, Jihad Intel (Middle East Forum), Syrian Rebellion Observatory, Syria Direct, /r/syriancivilwar, /u/flintsparc, /u/wiki-1000, Google/Google Images/Google Translate, YouTube
Last updated: April 7, 2024
Political factions
Government and supporters
Opposition
Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava)
Military factions
Government and supporters
Opposition
Islamic State
Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava)
Notable former groups
Notable regional alliances (operations rooms)
Political factions
* Government and supporters
* National Progressive Front (ruling coalition)
* Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party – Syria Region
Ideology: Assadist neo-Ba’athism (personalism, Arab nationalism, authoritarianism, Alawite favoritism, socialism (nominally)). The original Ba’ath Party split in 1966 between the Syrian and Iraqi branches. The Assadist (pro-Syrian) and Saddamist (pro-Iraqi) movements have little ideological differences, but their rivalry has been fierce. The Syrian Ba’ath has ruled Syria since 1963; the Assad family has led the party since 1970.
* Arab Socialist Union Party of Syria
Ideology: Nasserism
* Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash)
Ideology: Stalinism. The original SCP split in 1986 over the issue of perestroika, with the SCP-B being opposed to it.
* Syrian Communist Party (Unified)
Ideology: Leninism. aka Syrian Communist Party (Faysal). This was the pro-perestroika faction of the split.
* Socialist Unionist Party
Ideology: Nasserism. Split from the Ba’ath Party in 1961.
* National Covenant Movement
Ideology: Arab nationalism, socialism. Split from the Arab Socialist Movement.
* Syrian Social Nationalist Party
Ideology: Greater Syria (incorporation of wider Levant region, especially Lebanon and Palestine, into Syria), Syrian nationalism (historically ultranationalism), left-leaning economics, Christian interests, anti-Semitism. It has its own militia (see Nusur al-Zawba’a). Historically suppressed by various Syrian governments, it began reconciling with the government under Hafez al-Assad and was fully legalized in 2005.
* Arab Socialist Movement (pro-government faction)
Ideology: Arab nationalism, socialism. Founded in 1950, it was an early rival to the Ba’athists, though much smaller. It merged into the Ba’ath in 1953 but split in 1963. In 1972 it joined the ruling National Progressive Front, leading to a split. Another faction of the party supports the opposition (see its entry in the opposition section). In recent years the pro-government faction has lost representation in the legislature, but it continues to identify with the National Progressive Front. Two armed groups are led by members of the party: the Tribal Fighters Forces and the Zilal Groups.
* Arab Democratic Union Party
Ideology: Nasserism. Split from the Arab Socialist Union Party of Syria in 1981. Like the Arab Socialist Movement, it is no longer represented in the government.
* Democratic Socialist Unionist Party
Ideology: Nasserism, democratic socialism? Split from the Socialist Unionist Party in 1974. Another party that has lost representation in recent years.
* Popular Front for Change and Liberation Logo of the PFCL.jpg
The officially-sanctioned opposition to the government. Formed in 2012. Currently only one known affiliate:
* People’s Will Party
Ideology: Leninism. Expelled from Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash) under allegations of Trotskyism. Originally known as the National Committee for the Unity of Syrian Communists. Led by Qadri Jamil, who is seen as very close to Russia. It signed an agreement with the National Coordinating Committee (see opposition section) in 2014.
* Syrian Social Nationalist Party - al-Intifadah
Ideology: (see original SSNP entry). Split from the original SSNP in 1957. This faction is more critical of the government and is close to Russia. Helped create the Popular Front for Change and Liberation in 2012 but left in 2014 to support Assad’s re-election. Unknown if the SSNP-I has any seats in parliament.
* Social Democratic Unionists
Ideology: Social democracy, Arab nationalism (presumably). It was part of the ruling NPF but has lost representation in recent years and may no longer exist.
* Syrian National Youth Party Logo of the SNYP.svg
Ideology: pro-democracy. Has a militia that has been accused of lawlessness and has clashed with the YPG.
* Democratic Arab Solidarity Party
Ideology: Arab nationalism, pro-democracy. Considered part of the Russian-backed “opposition”.
* Palestinian Democratic Party
Ideology: Palestinian nationalism, anti-Zionism. A Palestinian refugee party. It has an armed wing known as the Liberation and Return Company.
* Free Palestine Movement
Ideology: Palestinian nationalism, anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism. Another party made up of Palestinians. It has an armed wing known as the al-Aqsa Shield Forces.
* Syrian Steadfastedness Party
Ideology: Ba’athism? Formed in 2016. Emphasizes its loyalty to the ideals of Hafez al-Assad.
* One Syria Gathering
Ideology: Arab nationalism. Formed sometime in 2020 by pro-government Arab tribes in al-Hasakah governorate. Wants to move the Kurdish-led administration away from the United States and towards Damascus.
* Council of Sheikhs and Notables of Syrian Tribes and Clans in al-Hasakah Governorate.
Ideology: Arab nationalism. Formed in early 2016 at the latest. Another pro-government tribal group. Both this group and the One Syria Gathering seem to be led by the Tayy tribe.
* Men of Dignity
Ideology: Druze interests. Sometimes translated as “Sheikhs of Dignity”. Led by popular Druze sheikh Wahid al-Balous, who strongly criticized the regime but did not join the opposition. Balous was killed in a bombing in September 2015; the perpetrator is unclear, but the Syrian government seems to be the most likely candidate. The group also has several associated militias, many of which are united under Quwat al-Fahd (see armed section).
* Forces of the Men of Dignity
Ideology: Druze interests. Formed by the sons of Wahid al-Balous in March 2018 after they felt that the Men of Dignity’s new leader was not strong enough. This new group stresses that it is not a rival of the original group. In February 2019 the Forces of the Men of Dignity established an armed wing called the Shield of the Men of Dignity (see armed section).
* Arab Druze Identity Movement DefendDruzeIdentityLogo
Ideology: Druze interests. Focused on defending Druze identity from perceived cooptation, particularly “Shi’ification”. Like the Men of Dignity, it is highly critical of the regime despite not being part of the opposition.
* Lebanese political parties:
* Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon
(see SSNP above)
* Hezbollah
Ideology: Shia Islamism, anti-Zionism. Also involved militarily.
* Arab Democratic Party
Ideology: Arab nationalism, Arab socialism. Often seen as a Syrian-backed Alawite party.
* Popular Nasserist Organization
Ideology: Nasserism
* Arab Tawhid Party
Ideology: Arab nationalism, Druze interests
* Amal Movement
Ideology: Shia interests, Arab nationalism, conservatism. The other major Shia party in Lebanon.
* Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq ISCI Flag
Ideology: Shia Islamism. One of the main Shia parties in Iraq. Like the Badr Organization, it has connections in the Iraqi intelligence sector and (to a lesser extent) is associated with anti-Sunni discrimination. Ideologically close to Iran, though since 2007 it has moderated its pro-Iranian rhetoric.