Palestinian militia reports high number of fatalities on Syria’s frontlines

MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : PALESTINIANS FIGHTING AGAIMNST SDF- KURDS & SYRIANS

By Caleb Weiss | June 3rd, 2019 | weiss.caleb2@gmail.com | @Weissenberg7  – THE LONG WAR JOURNAL

A group of Liwa al Quds fighters in Syria’s southern Sweida region earlier this year.Liwa al Quds, a pro-Assad regime militia primarily comprised of Palestinians, has reported its forces have suffered a high number of fatalities in recent battles in Syria’s Hama province.

According to the group’s Facebook page, the militia has lost 20 if its men in combat in northern Hama in recent weeks. After listing the names of the killed fighters, Liwa al Quds vows that it will “continue down their path and follow their journey until completely clearing the homeland’s soil from the filth of terrorism.”

Early last month, the Assad regime and its allies mounted an offensive in northern Hama near the borders with the rebel-held Idlib province. Several towns in northern Hama have since been the focus of intense fighting as they have changed hands multiple times.

Based on the fatality numbers, it appears that Liwa al Quds is playing a large role in the current fighting – which also includes fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah.

This should not be surprising, as the militia has been at the forefront of other battles, such as in Aleppo, Deir al Zour, and near the ancient town of Palmyra.

Liwa al Quds, which also refers to itself as the Syrian Arab Army Fedayeen, is a largely Sunni Palestinian militant group that has openly operated as an auxiliary to pro-regime forces in Syria since 2013.

The militia group is also a favorite of Russian troops in Syria. Russian officers have bestowed several medals to the group’s commanders, while Russian troops have embedded with the outfit on several occasions.

Pictures released by the group have also shown more modern Russian weapons within its arsenal, indicating that Russia has directly armed the force. Russian troops and contractors have also trained the militia.

Caleb Weiss is a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal.

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