Fahim Issa
Fahim Issa | |
|---|---|
| فهيم عيسى Fehim İsa | |
| Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region | |
| Assumed office 12 April 2025 | |
| President | Ahmed al-Sharaa |
| Minister | Murhaf Abu Qasra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tal al-Hawa, Aleppo, Syria |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
|
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | |
Fahim Issa (Arabic: فهيم عيسى, Turkish: Fehim İsa) is a Syrian military officer serving as the Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region since April 2025. He was a prominent figure in the Syrian National Army and previously held several leadership positions within Syrian opposition forces.
Early life and background
[edit]Issa was born in the village of Tal al-Hawa, near the town of Al-Rai in northeastern Aleppo Governorate, an area with a predominantly Syrian Turkmen population. He himself is a Turkmen.[1]
He started his career as a cobbler in Aleppo city, before later getting involved in armed conflict.[2]
Syrian civil war
[edit]With the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Issa joined the armed opposition and played a central role in the establishment of the Sultan Murad Division, a faction primarily composed of Syrian Turkmen fighters. He commanded the division in various battles, including engagements against the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Assad regime, and the Islamic State (ISIL). He also participated in Turkish-backed military operations such as Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, and Operation Peace Spring.[1][3]
In 2022, Issa was appointed commander of the Second Corps of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, following his leadership of the unified military structure Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation, which was formed through the merger of several factions.[4] Prior to this, he served as deputy commander of the Azm Operations Room, established the previous year.[1]
Issa was widely regarded as the closest ally of Mohammed al-Jassem (Abu Amsha), then-leader of the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, and intervened in his defense during al-Jassem’s detention by the Azm Operations Room on charges of corruption.[1]
He was also described as one of Turkey’s most trusted figures in Syria, contributing significantly to the deployment of fighters to both Libya and Azerbaijan, in support of Turkish military operations during the their involvement in Liby and their support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[1] He was reportedly also responsible for sending fighters to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria in Western Africa.[5]
In 2023, as commander of the Second Corps, Issa led an offensive against Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), though the campaign did not achieve its objectives, which subsequently diminished his public visibility.[1][6]
In November 2024, an HTS-led coalition launched Operation Deterrence of Aggression against the forces of Bashar al-Assad, culminating in the collapse of his regime on 8 December 2024. Shortly after the operation began, the Syrian National Army initiated Operation Dawn of Freedom,[7] during which Issa served as a commander within the Sultan Murad Division.[1]
Government role
[edit]On 12 April 2025, Issa was appointed Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region under Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. His role focuses on military and administrative affairs in northern Syria amidst a wide restructuring effort in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime.[3]
Controversies
[edit]Prisons operated by the Sultan Murad Division under Issa's leadership were reportedly associated with serious allegations, including psychological and physical abuse, death threats, and incidents of sexual violence.[8] The Division was also reportedly known to recruit and deploy child soldiers.[9]
In 2021, Issa posted on Twitter expressing support for the "Turkification" of Syria, envisioning a future in which a free Syria would be Turkish-speaking and join the Organization of Turkic States.[10]
In March 2024, Issa took part in a rally held in Al-Rai commemorating the thirteenth anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian revolution. During the event, he held a sign directed at Ahmed al-Sharaa (then known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani), the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that read: "Hey Julani, we do not want you—neither you nor your master Bashar". The stance came at a time when demonstrations were taking place in northwestern Syria (territory then controlled by HTS) demanding the resignation of al-Julani.[11] The image of Issa holding the sign later resurfaced and generated controversy after his appearance at the Presidential Palace in Damascus during the Revolution Victory Conference in January 2025.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g ""أكثر المقربين من تركيا".. ماذا تعرف عن نائب وزير الدفاع السوري فهيم عيسى؟" ["One of Turkey’s Closest Allies".. What Do You Know About Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense Fahim Issa?]. North Press Agency (in Arabic). 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ ""فهيم عيسى" من إسكافي في أحياء حلب الشرقية.. إلى أقوى ذراع لأنقرة في الشمال السوري" [“Fahim Issa”: From a cobbler in the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo to Ankara’s strongest arm in northern Syria]. Afrin Post (in Arabic). 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ a b "ما المنصب الذي تقلّده فهيم عيسى في وزارة الدفاع السورية؟" [What Position Did Fahim Issa Assume in the Syrian Ministry of Defense?]. Syria TV (in Arabic). 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "عودة الحلف القديم وتفعيل قرارات اجتماع تركيا.. فهيم عيسى قائداً للفيلق الثاني" [Return of the Old Alliance and Activation of Turkey Meeting Decisions: Fahim Issa Appointed Commander of the Second Corps]. Syria TV (in Arabic). 13 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Turkey recruits Syrians to fight in Africa under supervision of Sultan Murad Division". Enab Baladi. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Death toll update: Five casualties among HTS-backed Ahrar Awlan Faction in clashes with "Al-Sultan Murad" in Aleppo". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ ""الحكومة المؤقتة" تطلق عملية ضد النظام و"قسد"" [“Interim Government” launches operation against the regime and "SDF"]. Enab Baladi (in Arabic). 30 November 2024. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "سجون "فرقة السلطان مراد"…ضرب وانتهاكات ضد كل المكونات وتدليل لعناصر "الدولة الإسلامية" واعتداءات على النساء، المرصد السوري يواصل كشف حقيقة الأوضاع داخل مناطق سيطرة الفصيل الموالي لتركيا" [Sultan Murad Division’s prisons... Beatings and abuses against all communities, preferential treatment for Islamic State members, and assaults on women — the Syrian Observatory continues exposing the reality inside the areas under the pro-Turkey group’s control]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 22 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Sultan Murad Division". Counter Extremism Project. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "منافساً أبو عمشة.. فهيم عيسى يدعو لتتريك سوريا" [Competing with Abu Amsha. Fahim Issa calls for the Turkification of Syria]. Syrian Snack (in Arabic). 4 October 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "سجال وردود.. فهيم عيسى يظهر بعد غياب مطالباً بإسقاط الجولاني (فيديو)" [Debate and reactions: Fahim Issa reappears after absence, calls for the overthrow of al-Julani (video)]. Syria TV (in Arabic). 17 March 2024. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.