War in Syria
Sunni
Believed Abu Bakr, father of Mohammad should succeed. Status Quo oriented State funded religious scholars Ummayad, Abbasid, Ottoman caliphates
Shia
Believed Ali, brother-in-law of Mohammed should succeed revolution oriented Martydom and grievance Religious scholars paid for by faithful not the state Iran Twelvers Alawi, Druze, and Ismaili are off shoots
Baghdad
Capital of Abbasid caliphate (750-1258)
Damascus
Capital of Ummayad caliphate (661-750)
PYD
Democratic Union Party a Kurdish democratic confederalist political party established on 20 September 2003 in northern Syria. "social equality, justice and the freedom of belief" as well as "pluralism and the freedom of political parties"
Abd Al-Aziz Ibn Saud
Early 1900s. Organized salafi fighters. Proclaimed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
Hassan Al-Banna
Egyptian school teacher who started the Muslim Brotherhood
Syria
Enlightenment/ France denotes Biled ash-Sham... "Holy Land"
Yazidi People
Ethnoreligion in Iraq Kurdish speaking (some even identity as Kurdish) Seen as devilworshippers by ISIS August 2014: ISIS enslaves women, kills men destroy town Al-Maliki did nothing even when Kurdish Peshmerga offered to help out of fear of Peshmerga taking the territories.
Rashidun
First four caliphates after Mohammad. Abu Bakr Umar Ibn Al-Khattab Uthman Ali
Tayyep Erdogan
Focused on mobilisation of the middle class he celebrated "patriotic capitalism," the rise of a new bourgeoisie, and the narrative that religious piety and self-disciple were the key to economic success. Prime Minister of Turkey in 2003
Assef Shawkat
Former head of Military Intelligence (2005 to 2009), deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (2009-2011), deputy Minister of Defense (2011-2012). Killed on July 18, 2012. Brother in law to Bashar Al-Asad
Hay'et Tahrir as-Sham
Formerly, Jabhat al-Nusra and Jabhat Fateh as-Sham From January 2017 onward
Sykes-Picot Agreement
Franco-Anglo-Russian Agreement on the distribution of land according to country. France gets North England gets South They are independent Arab states under the control of these governments
FSA
Free Syria Army 2011 Founded by Ryadh Al-Asaad Founded in Turkish refugee camp Sought to govern all rebel factions
Opération Chammal
French war efforts against ISIS in Syria
Jabhat al-Nusra
Front of Victory Al-Qaeda in Syria Salafi-jihadist organization fighting against the Syrian government
International Coalition Against ISIS
September 2014 Great Britain, France, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and more
"Train and Equip" program
September 2014, US House of Representatives approved program to support Syrian rebels fighting ISIS. Cost $500 million Ended about a year later FAILURE, benefited Jabhat Al-Nusra
The Armenian Genocide
Spring 1915, Ottomans decided to deport all Armenians in Eastern Anatolia toward the Caucasus and the Syrian desert. Over a million perished.
Bashar Al-Asad
Suceeded Hafiz Al-Asad after Hafiz's death in July, 2000. Mild-mannered, opthalmoligst trained in the UK.
SDF
Syrian Democratic Forces an alliance of predominantly Kurdish, but also Arab and Assyrian/Syriac militias, as well as some smaller Turkmen and Chechen participation in the Syrian Civil War. The SDF is militarily led by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a mostly Kurdish militia. Founded in October 2015, the SDF states its mission as fighting to create a secular, democratic and federal Syria.
SNC
Syrian National Council Founded in Istanbul in 2011 Composed of Syrians long living in exile Opposition force supported by the Turkish government Affiliation with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood
Arab Spring
The 2011 uprisings expressed widespread popular frustration with lack of economic opportunity, corruption and the privileges of the political class and the well-connected business elites. The United States and its European allies seized the moment as an opportunity to promote democracy and pro-market reforms.
Quedat Al-Malumat
The Database 1980s Peshawar, Pakistan Founded by Osama Bin Laden and Abdulla Yusef Azzam initially organized to help foreign volunteers from the Arab world join the Afghan resistance forces.
Quds Force
The special forces and foreign operations branch of the Revolutionary Guards of Iran.
Qasem Suleimani
"The Shadow Commander" Leader of the Quds Force since 1998 He oversees Hezbollah, Iraqi militias and political parties and since 2011 has advised Asad military.
Capitulations
1 cause for the fall of the Ottoman Empire special legal privileges for foreigners in ottoman lands. Led to Euro economic influence and Euro settlements.
The Levant
Land of the Rising Sun: Shores of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Biled ash-Sham
Land to the north/ Land to the left
The Damascus Spring
Bashar Al-Asad began to negotiate an association deal with the European Union, a trade deal with Germany, filed for WTO membership. The authorities freed some political prisoners, tolerated some political and social debate. Ended after 9/11
Muslim Brotherhood
1929, firstly a religious revivalist movement aimed at ridding Egypt of "corrupting influences (Great Britain)".
The Peel Commission
1937, British Commission recognized the presence of two rival nationalist movements in Palestine. 2 state solution.
The Baath Party
1940s, a political organization that espoused pan-Arab unity and militant anti-imperialism. Party of both Al-Asads.
United Arab Republic
1958, based on the principles of pan-Arab nationalism, Syria and Egypt joined as one.
Fatah (Fath)
1960s, founded by Yasser Arafat. Umbrella group for Palestinian Organization
Civil War in Lebanon
1975-1990 Tension between Phalange Party and Lebanese National Movement. Palestinian guerrillas established armed presence in refugee camps in Lebanon Shia population becomes more assertive Lebanese military split among factional lines.
PKK
1980s Kurdish Worker's Party Communist, military Turkish party. Trained in Bekaa Valley with the help of Hafiz Al-Asad's regime. Led by Abdullah Ocalan
Hezbollah
1985: Official date of existence Derived from Iranian Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) setting up military camp in the Bekaa Lebanese Organization Anti-Israel 1990: fought against IDF occupation in Southern Lebanon Took control of Southern Lebanon in May, 2000.
Salafi Jihadism
2000, only small groups of salafi-jihdism could be found: Mainly in Afghanistan, the Caucuses, and Somalia... Al-Quaeda became the most world renowned.
Cedar Revolution
2005 Lebanon Triggered by the assassination of former prime minister of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri Demonstrators wanted the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the end of Syrian influence over Lebanon. Under pressure from the United States and France, Bashar Al-Asad complied. But Hezbollah and its allies remained important vectors of Syrian influence.
San Remo Conference
April 1920, gave Mesopotamia, Transjordan, and Palestine to Great Britiain; Syria and Lebanon to France
Jaysh Al-Fatah
Army of Conquest March 2015 New rebel coalition including Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham and other salafi jihadi groups
Treaty of Sevres
August 1920, Divided Anatolia in different areas fo control and influence
Pan-Arab Nationalism
Based on socialism, Arab unity, solidarity among Arab states and with the Palestinian cause combined with opposition to Israel, to "puppet monarchies" and to Western economic dominance.
Jamil Hassan
Head of Air Force Intelligence (2009-2018)
Hafiz Makhlouf
Head of General Security Directorate in Damascus Brother of Rami Makhlouf
Hisham Ikhtyar
Head of National Security Bureau (2005-2012)
Maher Al-Asad
Head of the Republican Guard and Fourth Armored Division Younger brother to Bashar Al-Asad
Arab Spring in Egypt and Tunisia
Historically pro-west Ability to repress movement was limited (couldn't infringe upon human rights out of fear of losing aid). Supported by Erdogan (neo-ottomanism)
Hussain McMahon Correspondance
Hussein of Mecca asked Great Britain to recognize the independence of the Arab countries "bounded on the north by Mersina and Adana up to the 37th degree of latitude, on which degree fall Birijik, Urfa, Mardin, Midiat, Jezirat (Ibn 'Umar), Amadia, up to the border of Persia; on the east by the borders of Persia up to the Gulf of Basra; on the south by the Indian Ocean, with the exception of the position of Aden to remain as it is; on the west by the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea up to Mersina."
The Sednaya Prison Amnesty
In March 2011, about two weeks after the first protests, the Syrian government released hundreds of detainees from Sednaya prison. Most were Islamists and some would become leading figures in the armed opposition: Zahran Alloush, leader of Liwa Al-Islam, later renamed Jaish Al-Islam; Hassan Aboud, one of the founders of Ahrar Al-Sham; Awad Al-Makhlaf, who would serve as the ISIS governor of Raqqa province in 2014, among others.
The Mandates
In theory, a mandate was suppose to represent a compromise between colonialism and independence but in practice a "mandate" just a liberal sounding name for what was in essence a colonial enterprise.
Moqtada Al-Sadr
Iraqi political and religious leader of one of the most fierce and powerful anti-US militia groups: The Mahdi Army
Sinjar
Iraqi town and home of Yazidi population. Since taken from ISI under the Obama Administration yet many Yazidi still fear returning in case ISI retakes the town.
ISI
Islamic State in Iraq Al-Qaeda trained Adu Musaf Al-Zarqawi founded a form of Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia which after the US invasion of Iraq (2003) Eventually the group settled on the name ISI
Fatah Al-Sham
Jabhat al-Nusra 2016-2017
Salman
January 2015 became the king of Saudi Arabia and placed his son, Mohammed Bin Salman as the minister of defense. Lauched war against Yemen. Futhered support for rebels in Syria
Black September
Jordan moved against Palestinian guerrillas. Syria intervened on the side of the PLO but on Al-Assad's orders refrained from escalation. The conflict resulted in the departure of Arafat and the PLO from Jordan and their move to Lebanon.
AKP
Justice and Development Party in Turkey Founded in 2001 under Erdogan 2002 won majority in Turkish parliament. Leading to Erdogan's win for Prime Minister in 2003
KDP
Kurdish Democratic Party Massud Barzani 1/2 Kurdish national parties that vied for power from 1991 Worked with Turkey in exchange for collaboration against the PKK
Al-Qaeda
Late 1980s Led by Osama Bin Laden Created from Quaebat Al-Malumat re-orienting itself internationally as a result of the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan. A "vanguard" that would "awaken consciences" through "armed propaganda" Re-interpretation of Muslim Brotherhood principles, more conservative, militant activity against west.
Hafiz Al-Asad
Leader of Syria Baath Party member Alawi Ideas: pan-Arabism, secularism .Came to power in 1970
Abdulla Öcalan
Leader of the PKK Captured by Syria 1998: Syria asked him to leave the country, he traveled to Moscow would up in Italy and was arrested in Kenya. Led to better relations between Syria and Turkey.
Phalange Party
Maronite party in control of Lenbanese government during Civil war 1976 Supported by Hafiz Al-Asad
Kurdish Peshmerga
Military group of Kurdish fighters who often fought against ISI Defended the town of Kurkuk and took is from Al-Maliki because of this, when they offered to help defend the Yazidi people, Al-Maliki said no.
Syrian security apparatuses
Military intelligence, General Security Directorate, Air Force Intelligence, Republican Guard, and Fourth Armored Division.
Adel Safar
Minister of Agriculture (2003-2011) Prime minister (2011-2012)
Neo-Ottomanism
Neo-Ottomanism is the belief that Turkey should pursue a grand sphere of influence, encompassing all the former domains of the Ottoman Empire and even more broadly the entire Islamic world: as a policy, it has political (Islamist), economic (pro-market), and cultural (pro-Islam) dimensions.
PLO
Palestinian Liberation Organization 1960s, Founded by Yasser Arafat. Arafat's own organization.
Lebanese National Movement
Pan-Arab movement led by Kamal Jumblatt who opposed Phalange Party.
Arab Spring in Libya and Syria
Pan-Arab, anti-imperialist, anti-West UN Security Council authorized intervention to protect citizens Syria was much more violent concern the put down of protests
PUK
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani 2/2 Kurdish national parties that vied for power from 1991 Worked with Turkey in exchange for collaboration against the PKK
YPG
People's Protection Units Kurdish militia in Syria and the primary component of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria's Syrian Democratic Forces. The YPG is mostly ethnically Kurdish, and also includes Arabs, foreign volunteers, and is closely allied to the Syriac Military Council, a militia of Assyrians. The YPG was formed in 2004 as the armed wing of the Kurdish leftist Democratic Union Party. It expanded rapidly in the Syrian Civil War and came to predominate over other armed Kurdish groups
Hashd Al-Shaabi
Popular Mobilization A coalition of militias that came together in June 2014 to fight ISIS. Mainly Shia, with small Sunni, Christian and Yezidi units. Badr Organization, Kata'ib Hezbollah, Moqtada Al Sadr's Peace Companies (formerly Mahdi Army)
Al-Maliki
Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006-2014 Monopolization of power of Obama Admin pulled troops from Iraq
Mohammad Naji Al-Otari
Prime Minister of Syria from 2003-2011
Rami Makhlouf
Richest man in Syria First cousin of Bashar Al-Asad
Haider Al-Abadi
Took over as Prime Minister of Iraq after Al-Maliki was forced to step down. 2014-Present
Arab Revolutions
Tunisian Revolution: December 17, 2010 - January 14, 2011. Egyptian Revolution: January 25, 2011 - February 10, 2011. Yemeni Revolution: January 27, 2011 - November 23, 2011. Libyan Revolution: February 15, 2011 - 20 October, 2011. Syrian Revolution: March 15, 2011-present
Operation Shader
UK war efforts against ISIS in Syria
Operation Inherent Resolve
US war efforts against ISIS in Syria
Farouk Al-Shaara & Najah Al-Attar
Vice-Presidents since 2006
Ahrar Al-Sham
a coalition of multiple Islamist and Salafist units that coalesced into a single brigade and later a division in order to fight against the Syrian Government led by Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian Civil War. Ahrar al-Sham was led by Hassan Aboud until his death in 2014.
Ali Mamlouk
director of the General Security Directorate (2005-2010), "special advisor" to the president (2010-2012), later director of the National Security Bureau (2012-2018).
Ryadh Farid Hijab
governor of Quneitra (2008-2011), governor of Latakia (2011-2011), minister of agriculture (2011-2012), briefly prime minister (2012), then defected to the opposition.
Walid Muallem
minister of foreign affairs (since 2006)