Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades (Master of Martyrs) (Syria)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
549
|
| Country: |
Syria |
| Date formed: |
April 13, 2013 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
month
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group emerged first in April 2013 when it split from the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades. In May it held funerals for fallen fighters, which announced the group’s existence to the public. Following the funerals, little was heard of the group until in August the group started to be more active in online propaganda. One news source suggests that Iran was involved in creating the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades. |
| 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? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
unclear |
| Created by the Government?: |
no |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
unclear
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no |
| Shared Personnel: |
no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
Foreign government; foreign support
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
Iran
|
| Other Connection(s): |
Badr Orgnization |
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
Shi'a Arabs (Iraq)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
given
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The sources do not explicitly mention a direct link to the Syrian regime. The group was coded as PGM due to the similarities with other Iranian-backed Iraqi militias operating in Syria, which are reportedly pro-Assad. The group is originally based in Basra. It is also known as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), Sayyid’s Martyrs and Kata’ib Abu Fadl al-Abbas (Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium) |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The main purpose of the group is to protect the Sayyidah Zaynab Shrine near Damascus. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
|
| 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? |
often |
PGM Size
| Size: |
In 2013, the group’s information office claimed to have sent 500 members to Syria. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (2013) estimates that the group has 200 fighters. |
Weapons and Training
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades are led by Abu-Mustafa al-Shaybani´(also known as Hamid al-Sheibani) who is an Iraqi Shiite who has worked under the Quds Force since the late 1980s (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2013). The group is financed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It is possible that the KSS and the Badr Organization have a close relationship. In Syria, the KSS takes part in the Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas (LAFA) (Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 2019. “Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS)“. https://www.trackingterrorism.org/group/kata%E2%80%99ib-sayyid-al-shuhada-kss
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 2013. “Iran's Foreign Legion: The Role of Iraqi Shiite Militias in Syria.” Policywatch 2096. June 27. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/irans-foreign-legion-the-role-of-iraqi-shiite-militias-in-syria
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD
Evidence
