The National Ideological Resistance in Syria (al-muqawama al-wataniya al-'aqa'idiya fi Souria) (Syria)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
553
|
| Country: |
Syria |
| Date formed: |
Oct. 11, 2014 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
According to the group’s leader, the group was established in mid-2009 as a resistance movement of Syrian people against the perceived Zionist enemy. One news source indicates that the NIR had its beginnings in the Hama locality of Masyaf. Another news source mentions suggestions that the group might have been set up by Hezbollah. The first reports on the group's active alignment with Assad were published in October 2014 with no information about the beginning of the alliance. |
| 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? |
unclear |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| 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: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| 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: |
no information
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
Lebanese Hezbollah |
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
Alawi (Syria)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
given
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The National Ideological Resistance (NIR) is identical in ideology to Hezbollah. It is affiliated with Hezbollah and other Iranian proxy militias. NIR is sometimes called Syrian Hezbollah. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
Initially, the group was founded to counter the perceived Zionist enemy. When the group aligned with the government, its purpose became to participate in the Syrian civil war and assist the regime’s ongoing offensive against rebels. |
| 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? |
sometimes |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The group’s leader is Sayyid Hashim Muhammad Ali. In its logo, it portrays, among others, Bashar al-Assad. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD
Evidence
