23rd Division (Syrian rebel group)

23rd Division
23rd Division
Arabic: الفرقة 23
	Fighters of the 23rd Division, led by Col. Abu Mustafa, during the Turkish military operation in Afrin in February 2018. The group's flag can be seen in the background.
Leaders	Colonel Hassan Rajoub (Abu Omar, since July 2016); Col. Abu Mustafa; Abu al-Joud al-Homsi; Former: Col. Suleyman Shalal; Khaled Saraj ("Khaled Hayani") † (2013–15); Abdul Khaliq Lahyani (resigned in July 2016);
Dates of operation	19 September 2013 – 25 July 2016 (16th Division); July 2016 – 8 August 2020 (23rd Division Aleppo branch only)
Group(s)	Badr Martyrs' Brigade; Descendents of Omar Battalions; Lions of the Revolution Brigade; Mustafa Martyrs Brigade; Hawks of Islam Battalions; Former: Yusuf al-'Azma Brigade; Saladin Ayubi Brigade; Free Syria Brigade Arab Spring Brigade; ; Al-Aqsa Brigade;
Headquarters	Khalidiya District, Aleppo (2013–16); Qah, Idlib Governorate (2016–18); Azaz and Afrin, northern Aleppo Governorate (2018–20)
Active regions	Aleppo Governorate and northern Idlib Governorate, Syria
Size	+1,600 (own claim in 2014)
Part of	Syrian National Army National Front for Liberation; Fatah Halab (2015–16)
Allies	Ahrar al-Sham; Mountain Hawks Brigade; Knights of Justice Brigade; Levant Front (until August 2020); Fastaqim Union; Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement; Turkey; Al-Nusra Front/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (sometimes);
Opponents	Syrian Armed Forces; Hezbollah; Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; Syrian Democratic Forces; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (sometimes); Levant Front (August 2020);
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Battle of Aleppo Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013); Aleppo offensive (July 2015); Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015); Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016); Aleppo offensive (June–July 2016); ; Al-Nusra Front-SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict; Turkish military operation in Afrin;

The 23rd Division (Arabic: الفرقة 23) or 16th Infantry Division (Arabic: الفرقة 16 مشاة) was a Syrian rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. Formed in September 2013, the group was active mainly in the city Aleppo and its surroundings. After rebel lines in Aleppo collapsed due to advances by the Syrian Army during the Battle of Aleppo in mid-2016, the 16th Division suffered heavy casualties and was dissolved. Remnants of the group then formed the 23rd Division (Arabic: الفرقة 23).^[13] The Syrian National Army faction of the group in northern Aleppo was disbanded after its leadership was attacked by the Levant Front in August 2020, with its other members were transferred to other groups under the SNA's 3rd Legion.^[10]

^ ^a ^b ""Band 16" infantry appoints new commander in Aleppo". Enab Baladi. 25 July 2016.
^ ^a ^b "We raised Combat readiness south-west of Afrin, Commander of 23rd Division military operations says". Syria Call. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ ""BAND 23" CAPTURES 10 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND KILLS THREE SUBURBS OF ALEPPO". Baladi News Network. 13 January 2018.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Formation (band 16) in Aleppo: Colonel "waterfall" vows liberation of Aleppo". Orient News. 19 September 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Exclusive interview: FREE SYRIAN ARMY COMMANDER Abdulkhalek Hayani" (PDF). RFS Media Office. October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
^ "FSA mourns senior commander killed in Aleppo". Zamanalwsl. 2 May 2015.
^ "Press agency Shahba: the formation of the band 16 in the northern countryside in Aleppo". Shahba Press Agency. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
^ "Al - Aqsa Brigade announces its withdrawal from the "band 16" in Aleppo because of the absence of regulation and the presence of offenders". Aksalser. 14 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b ""Liberation Sham" attacking the headquarters of the band 23 in the northern countryside of Idlib and controlled". Shaam News Network. 28 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Aleppo: "Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah" disbands "23rd Division", arresting the division's leader and taking over all headquarters". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 8 August 2020.
^ "11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"". Syria Call. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
^ Syria’s moderate opposition? Archived 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine The Week
^ "Aleppo: Opposition to counter attacks by the regime .. And regain the sponsor of the "da'ash"". Al-Modon. 18 August 2016.

[appoint-1] ""Band 16" infantry appoints new commander in Aleppo". Enab Baladi. 25 July 2016.

[afrin-2] "We raised Combat readiness south-west of Afrin, Commander of 23rd Division military operations says". Syria Call. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.

[3] ""BAND 23" CAPTURES 10 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND KILLS THREE SUBURBS OF ALEPPO". Baladi News Network. 13 January 2018.^{[permanent dead link]}

[4] "Formation (band 16) in Aleppo: Colonel "waterfall" vows liberation of Aleppo". Orient News. 19 September 2013.

[rfs-5] "Exclusive interview: FREE SYRIAN ARMY COMMANDER Abdulkhalek Hayani" (PDF). RFS Media Office. October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-06-26.

[6] "FSA mourns senior commander killed in Aleppo". Zamanalwsl. 2 May 2015.

[shahba-7] "Press agency Shahba: the formation of the band 16 in the northern countryside in Aleppo". Shahba Press Agency. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

[aqsa-8] "Al - Aqsa Brigade announces its withdrawal from the "band 16" in Aleppo because of the absence of regulation and the presence of offenders". Aksalser. 14 November 2013.

[hts-9] ""Liberation Sham" attacking the headquarters of the band 23 in the northern countryside of Idlib and controlled". Shaam News Network. 28 February 2018.

[disbands-10] "Aleppo: "Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah" disbands "23rd Division", arresting the division's leader and taking over all headquarters". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 8 August 2020.

[call-11] "11 FSA Factions in New Command in of "National Front Liberation"". Syria Call. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

[12] Syria’s moderate opposition? Archived 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine The Week

[sponsor-13] "Aleppo: Opposition to counter attacks by the regime .. And regain the sponsor of the "da'ash"". Al-Modon. 18 August 2016.

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