Pro-Government Militias
Fatah al-Intifada (Syria)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 530 |
| Country: | Syria |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1983 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | Fatah al-Intifada split from Yasser Arafat’s organization Fatah (Human Rights Watch) in 1983. Since this separation, it has been supported by the Syrian and Iranian governments. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 207 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | unclear |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; Foreign government |
| State Sponsor(s): | Iran |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; foreign nationals |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Yarmouk Refugee Camp, Damascus |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; destabilise neighbouring countries; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Palestinian Arabs (Israel) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Fatah al-Intifada (Fatah Uprising) is a Syrian-backed Palestinian group. It refused the Oslo Agreements of 1993 and is a strong advocate for the armed struggle against Israel. The group fought in Lebanon. In 2006, the Fatah al-Islam, a Sunni Muslim Palestinian group split from Fatah al-Intifada (Human Rights Watch). |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | Syria uses the Fatah al-Intifada mainly to stir instability in Lebanon. Later, the group was actively pro-government in the Syrian civil war. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | In a blockaded camp Fatah al Intifada allegedly cut off water on the families living there. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: | A news source from February 2013 says that the militants number 500. It is unclear, however, whether this estimate only refers to the Fatah al-Intifada or also comprises other similar militant groups. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | According to one news source, the militants are equipped with mortar bombs, anti-tanks arms, 106mm cannons B-10 cannons and anti-aircraft weapons. It is unclear, whether this only refers to the Fatah al-Intifada or also comprises other similar militant groups. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Hafiz al-Assad and his successor Bashar al-Assad provide support and refuge to Fatah al-Intifada. The militia is loyal to Bashar al-Assad. Until January 2013 the group was led by Sais al-Muragha, also known as Abu Moussa. After he died, Abu Ayad Zahreh took over the command. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.