Jebel al-Zawiyah is a rebel stronghold that lies 11 kilometers to the west of the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo. It lies 30 km southeast of the Turkish border. The city of Ariha sits along the main road linking Aleppo to Latakia. Rebel groups there are well positioned to deny the regime access to key lines of communication across Syria.

1. Title

2. Aleppo
Turkey
Jebel al-Zawiyah
Ariha
Latakia
Jebel al-Zawiyah is a rebel stronghold that lies 11 kilometers to the west of
the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo. It lies 30 km southeast of the
Turkish border. The city of Ariha sits along the main road linking Aleppo to
Latakia. Rebel groups there are well positioned to deny the regime access
to key lines of communication across Syria.

3. Rebels travel 11 km
to overrun fortified
position on main
north-south highway
Rebels carry out
coordinated
attack, overrun
Mughara
checkpoint
Rebels improve
organizational
capacity, Idlib
Military Council
forms
Regime draws
down to increase
forces elsewhere
Rebel raids and
IED attacks
increase
Regime massacres fighters
and villagers
Large armed
Rebels form more demonstrations in
coherent Jebel al-Zawiyah
organizations
Regime violently disperses protests, small
bands of rebels emerge
Unarmed protests
begin

4. • Operates out of Sarjah Ariha • Operates out of central/southern Jebel al-
Ariha
Ariha
• Founded September 2011 Sarjah Zawiyah
Sarjeh
Sarjah
• Lead by Ahmed Abu Issa • Founded December 2011
Rami
• Run by a shura council • Lead by Lt. Alaa Hussein Khan Subul
• Stated aim is creation of a “moderate Islamic state” • Named after a Syrian Nationalist leader
Mughara
• Not directly linked to the Idlib Military Council • Directly linked to the Idlib Military Council
• Arms network is separate from the Idlib • Likely member of the Idlib Revolutionary
Revolutionary Council network Council arms network

5. al Sham
Although there is no evidence of a hierarchal chain of command across rebel groups in Jebel
al-Zawiyah, the participation of multiple groups in two raids in late May 2012 and late June
2012 does indicate joint planning and coordination.

6. Ariha Ariha
Sarjah
Sarjah
Rami
Khan Subul
Mughara
Six Confirmed Suqour al-Sham attacks Six Confirmed Suqour al-Sham attacks
March 11, 2012 – May 1, 2012. May 2, 2012 –July 13, 2012.
Suqour al-Sham attacks have shifted from their home village of Sarjah and the
closest urban center, Ariha, to towns up to 11 kilometers away.

7. ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun in Rami, Mid July Mounted Anti-aircraft gun in Khan Subul, late June Downed Helicopter Burns in Khan Subul, late June
A single IED destroys a tank in Ariha, early June

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