Sultan Murad Division

Sultan Murad Division
Sultan Murad Division
لواء السلطان مراد / Sultan Murat Tümeni
	; Flag used by the Division
Leaders	Col. Ahmad Othman (Ahmet Osman); Fahim Issa (Fehim İsa); Ali Şeyh Salih (DOW); Fayez al-Droush †; Mahmut Shaban Suleiman;
Dates of operation	28 March 2013–present
Group(s)	Sultan Murad Brigade Sultan Murad Battalion; ; Martyr Zaki Turkmani Brigade; Ashbal Akida Brigade; Sultan Malik-Shah Brigade; Homs Revolutionary Union; Homs al-Adiya Brigades (former);
Headquarters	Bustan al-Basha, Aleppo (destroyed in November 2016); Al-Bab (since 2017);
Active regions	Syria; Libya (since 2019); Azerbaijan (2020); Niger (since 2024); Togo (since 2024); Burkina Faso (since 2024)
Ideology	Islamism; Neo-Ottomanism
Size	1,300 (2013); 550+ (2016); 9000 (2021, claimed)
Part of	Free Syrian Army; Syrian National Army Syrian Turkmen Brigades; Dawn of Freedom Operations Room; Ansar al-Sharia (Syria) (2015–16); Fatah Halab (2015–16); Mare' Operations Room (2015-2016); Hawar Kilis Operations Room (2016-)
Allies	Turkey; Ahrar al-Sham; Libyan Army;
Opponents	; Ba'athist Syria; Syrian Democratic Forces; Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement (since 2017); Ahrar al-Sharqiya; Libyan National Army; Artsakh (2020); Armenia (2020); Boko Haram (since 2024); Suqour al-Sham Brigades (since 2024);
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016); Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016); Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016); Battle of al-Rai (August 2016); Operation Euphrates Shield Northern al-Bab offensive (September 2016); 2016 Dabiq offensive; Battle of al-Bab; Operation Olive Branch SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo; ; ; 2024 Syrian opposition offensives Operation Dawn of Freedom 2024 Manbij offensive; ; ; Turkish offensive in northern Syria (2024–present); East Aleppo offensive (2024–present); ; Second Libyan Civil War 2019–20 Western Libya campaign; ; Second Nagorno-Karabakh War; Islamist insurgency in the Sahel Boko Haram insurgency; Jihadist insurgency in Niger; Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso; ; 2022 Tripoli clashes;
Website	http://sultanmurattumeni.com

The Sultan Murad Division (Arabic: فرقة السلطان مراد; Firqat al-Sultan Murad; Turkish: Sultan Murat Tümeni) is a Syrian Turkmen rebel group fighting in the Syrian Civil War. It is aligned with the Syrian Interim Government and heavily supported by Turkey, who provides funding and military training along with artillery and aerial support. It is the most notable group among Syrian Turkmen Brigades also supported by Turkey.

^ "Turkish Forces and Rebels Storm Into Syria, Taking IS Stronghold of Jarablus". Voice of America. 24 August 2016.
^ "SULTAN MURAT TÜMENİ KOMUTANI FEHİM İSA TATHAMUS TÜRKMEN KÖYÜNÜN DEAŞ TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜNDEN TEMİZLENDİĞİNİ AÇIKLADI". 24 August 2016.
^ Cite error: The named reference Al-Monitor 2016 safe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "TÜRKMEN KOMUTANIMIZ ALİ SALİH ŞEHİT DÜŞTÜ". 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Commander of the "rebels Khalidiya" .. fought in Homs and Idlib and was assassinated in the door". Enab Baladi. 20 June 2017.
^ Çelik, Mehmet (13 October 2015). "US-equipped YPG commits war crimes, human rights watchdogs say". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^ "Sultan Murat Tümeni".
^ "Cerablus'taki Durumu, Suriye Türkmen Meclisi Bşk. Anlatıyor - Detay 13 - TRT Avaz". YouTube. 7 September 2016.
^ "The "free" handover of regime's prisoners and violations of the Turkey-loyal factions open doors of anger and resentment in the ranks of the "National Army," leaked recordings of members of "Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah": The blame is on the minister of defense and faction leaders, not Turkey, and mercenaries now steal their parents and consider it as spoils of war • the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". 2 November 2019.
^ "Halep'te Türkmen mahalleleri tamamen yıkıldı!". Yeniçağ Gazetesi (in Turkish). 29 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Pro-Turkey Syria mercenaries head to Niger to earn cash". Agence France-Presse. 16 May 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hassan Ibrahim (13 May 2024). "Turkey recruits Syrians to fight in Africa under supervision of Sultan Murad Division". Enab Baladi.
^ Khatib, Khaled (26 May 2017). "Aleppo: opposition to end "the Knights of the Revolution"". Al-Modon.
^ Joscelyn, Thomas (30 October 2016). "Jihadists and other rebels launch new offensive in Aleppo". Long War Journal. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
^ "Who Are the Pro-Turkey Rebels Advancing on Syria's Afrin".
^ "Military escalation | 28 members of "SDF" and Turkish-backed factions including a commander of "Al-Sultan Murad" kil*led and injured in Aleppo". SOHR. 4 January 2025.
^ SOHR: 13,000 Pro-Turkey Mercenaries Arrive in Libya See.news, 19 May 2020
^ LNA: Commander of the Turkey-backed Syrian "Sultan Murad Brigade" killed in Tripoli Archived 12 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine AdressLibya.co, 30 May 2020
^ Dozens of Syrian mercenaries in Libya killed in 1 week Egypt Today, 28 March 2020

[auto-1] "Turkish Forces and Rebels Storm Into Syria, Taking IS Stronghold of Jarablus". Voice of America. 24 August 2016.

[auto1-2] "SULTAN MURAT TÜMENİ KOMUTANI FEHİM İSA TATHAMUS TÜRKMEN KÖYÜNÜN DEAŞ TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜNDEN TEMİZLENDİĞİNİ AÇIKLADI". 24 August 2016.

[Al-Monitor_2016_safe-3] Cite error: The named reference Al-Monitor 2016 safe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] "TÜRKMEN KOMUTANIMIZ ALİ SALİH ŞEHİT DÜŞTÜ". 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016.

[homs-5] "Commander of the "rebels Khalidiya" .. fought in Homs and Idlib and was assassinated in the door". Enab Baladi. 20 June 2017.

[Çelik_2015-6] Çelik, Mehmet (13 October 2015). "US-equipped YPG commits war crimes, human rights watchdogs say". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 27 May 2021.

[7] "Sultan Murat Tümeni".

[8] "Cerablus'taki Durumu, Suriye Türkmen Meclisi Bşk. Anlatıyor - Detay 13 - TRT Avaz". YouTube. 7 September 2016.

[9] "The "free" handover of regime's prisoners and violations of the Turkey-loyal factions open doors of anger and resentment in the ranks of the "National Army," leaked recordings of members of "Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah": The blame is on the minister of defense and faction leaders, not Turkey, and mercenaries now steal their parents and consider it as spoils of war • the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". 2 November 2019.

[10] "Halep'te Türkmen mahalleleri tamamen yıkıldı!". Yeniçağ Gazetesi (in Turkish). 29 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2024.

[cash-11] "Pro-Turkey Syria mercenaries head to Niger to earn cash". Agence France-Presse. 16 May 2024.

[africa-12] Hassan Ibrahim (13 May 2024). "Turkey recruits Syrians to fight in Africa under supervision of Sultan Murad Division". Enab Baladi.

[13] Khatib, Khaled (26 May 2017). "Aleppo: opposition to end "the Knights of the Revolution"". Al-Modon.

[lwj30oct-14] Joscelyn, Thomas (30 October 2016). "Jihadists and other rebels launch new offensive in Aleppo". Long War Journal. Retrieved 20 February 2025.

[15] "Who Are the Pro-Turkey Rebels Advancing on Syria's Afrin".

[16] "Military escalation | 28 members of "SDF" and Turkish-backed factions including a commander of "Al-Sultan Murad" kil*led and injured in Aleppo". SOHR. 4 January 2025.

[17] SOHR: 13,000 Pro-Turkey Mercenaries Arrive in Libya See.news, 19 May 2020

[18] LNA: Commander of the Turkey-backed Syrian "Sultan Murad Brigade" killed in Tripoli Archived 12 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine AdressLibya.co, 30 May 2020

[19] Dozens of Syrian mercenaries in Libya killed in 1 week Egypt Today, 28 March 2020

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Sultan Murad Division
لواء السلطان مراد / Sultan Murat Tümeni
Flag used by the Division
Leaders	Col. Ahmad Othman (Ahmet Osman)^[1] Fahim Issa (Fehim İsa)^[2]^[3] Ali Şeyh Salih (DOW)^[4] Fayez al-Droush †^[5] Mahmut Shaban Suleiman^[6]
Dates of operation	28 March 2013^[7]–present
Group(s)	Sultan Murad Brigade Sultan Murad Battalion Martyr Zaki Turkmani Brigade Ashbal Akida Brigade Sultan Malik-Shah Brigade^[8] Homs Revolutionary Union^[5] Homs al-Adiya Brigades (former)^[9]
Headquarters	Bustan al-Basha, Aleppo (destroyed in November 2016)^[10] Al-Bab (since 2017)
Active regions	Syria Libya (since 2019) Azerbaijan (2020) Niger (since 2024)^[11]^[12] Togo (since 2024)^[11] Burkina Faso (since 2024)^[12]
Ideology	Islamism Neo-Ottomanism
Size	1,300 (2013) 550+ (2016) 9000 (2021, claimed)
Part of	Free Syrian Army Syrian National Army Syrian Turkmen Brigades Dawn of Freedom Operations Room Ansar al-Sharia (Syria) (2015–16) Fatah Halab (2015–16) Mare' Operations Room (2015-2016) Hawar Kilis Operations Room (2016-)
Allies	Turkey Ahrar al-Sham Libyan Army
Opponents	Ba'athist Syria Syrian Democratic Forces Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement (since 2017)^[13] Ahrar al-Sharqiya Libyan National Army Artsakh (2020) Armenia (2020) Boko Haram (since 2024)^[11] Suqour al-Sham Brigades (since 2024)
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)^[14] Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016) Battle of al-Rai (August 2016) Operation Euphrates Shield Northern al-Bab offensive (September 2016) 2016 Dabiq offensive Battle of al-Bab Operation Olive Branch^[15] SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo 2024 Syrian opposition offensives Operation Dawn of Freedom 2024 Manbij offensive Turkish offensive in northern Syria (2024–present) East Aleppo offensive (2024–present)^[16] Second Libyan Civil War^[17]^[18]^[19] 2019–20 Western Libya campaign Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Islamist insurgency in the Sahel^[11]^[12] Boko Haram insurgency Jihadist insurgency in Niger Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso 2022 Tripoli clashes
Website	http://sultanmurattumeni.com