Liwa Zulfiqar
| Liwa Zulfiqar | |
|---|---|
| لواء ذو الفقار | |
| Also known as | Islamic Resistance Liwa Zulfiqar |
| Leader | Abu Shahd Al-Jaburi |
| Foundation | 5 June 2013 |
| Dates of operation | 2013-present |
| Split from | Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas |
| Headquarters | Syria |
| Active regions | Ba'athist Syria Iraq |
| Ideology | Shiism |
| Status | Active |
| Part of | Popular Mobilization Forces 4th Armoured Division (Syria) Alawite Anger Division |
| Opponents | Jaysh al-Hur Islamic State[1] |
| Battles and wars | |
Liwa Zulfiqar (Arabic: لواء ذو الفقار) is a militant organization in Iraq and Syria. Its name is due to Zulfikar.
History
It was founded on June 5, 2013, the same day that Hezbollah declared victory in the Second Battle of al-Qusayr, claiming that the group is "in charge of protecting religious shrines, especially the Saydah Zaynab shrine". Most of the fighters come from Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas,[2] its leaders, Abu-Shahd and Abu-Hajir, are members of Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas.[3]
It collaborates with other militias in Syria such as Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas and Liwa al-Imam al-Hussein, just as it shares many leaders and fighters with Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas.[4]
Abu Shahd Al-Jaburi while delivering food, supplies and medicine in Daraa Governorate, was stormed by Jaysh al-Hur, a rebel group, where clashes broke out, where the forces of Jaysh al-Hur, overwhelmed the forces of Liwa Zulfiqar,[3] although the media considered him dead.[5]
Iraqi militias formed the "Alawite Anger Division" that the militias that comprise it are Liwa al-Imam al-Hussein and Liwa Zulfiqar, with 7,000 militants.[3]
The group published images of its mercenaries on the Syrian-Iraqi border. The Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham militia joined Liwa Zulfiqar.[6]
During Qalamoun offensive (2017), carried out massacres in Al-Nabek, as a person kidnapped by the group, Munir Abdul-Hay, along with 35 other people killed.[7]
The militia published photos of fighters participating in 2018 Southern Syria offensive from Busra al-Harir, entitled "Islamic Resistance Liwa Zulfiqar from the Heart of Busra al Harir".[8]
The group published images of Abu Shahd Al-Jaburi with Ghiath Dalla in an operating room from 4th Division in Saida.[9]
References
- ^ "Liwa'a Zulfiqar". jihadology.net. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ "Hizballah Cavalcade: Liwa'a Zulfiqar: Birth of A New Shia Militia in Syria?". jihadology.net. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ a b c "Documentation for Dhu-al-Fiqar Battalion (Liwa Dhulfiqar)".
- ^ "From Karbala to Sayyida Zaynab: Iraqi Fighters in Syria's Shi`a Militias". Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "مقتل حيدر الجبوري قائد مجزرة النبك" (in Arabic). 2014-02-25. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ "Who leads, operates Iran militias in al-Tanf?". The Baghdad Post. 2017-06-13. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ "مجزرة بيد ميليشيات شيعية في النبك.. اغتصاب وقتل وحرق". العربية (in Arabic). 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
- ^ Weiss, Caleb (2018-06-27). "Confirmed: First evidence of Iranian-controlled militia involvement in southern Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ Weiss, Caleb (2018-07-05). "Leader of Iranian-backed Shia militia seen inside Syrian military ops room". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-27.