Firqat Ahrar Nawa

Free Men of Nawa Brigade
فرقة أحرار نوى Firqat Ahrar Nawa
Leaders	Abdullah al‑Qura‘aẓa Major Khaled Hussein Taha Mazen "Abu Walid" Jawad
Headquarters	Nawa
Active regions	Daraa Governorate
Ideology	Anti-Assadism Anti-Iranian sentiment
Allies	Israel
Opponents	Ba'athist Syria Hezbollah IRGC ISIL
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War

Firqat Ahrar Nawa (فرقة أحرار نوى, meaning "Free Men of Nawa Brigade") is a Syrian rebel group that operated in the city of Nawa and its surroundings in the Daraa Governorate during the Syrian Civil War. It was affiliated with the Free Syrian Army’s Southern Front, and has been publicly identified as one of several local factions to receive covert support from Israel, alongside Fursan al-Joulan, Saif al-Sham Brigade, Jaysh al-Ababil , Al-Ezz bin Abdul Salam Brigade, Omar Bin Al-Khattab Brigade, Al-Haramein Battalion and others.

The group was formed on September 12, 2012 in the town of Nawa in Daraa province, and was led by Brigadier General Abdullah al-Qaraza, then Major Khaled Hussein Taha, and then Brigadier General Abdullah al-Qaraazah was reinstated after the problem of the dismissal of Major Taha by some formations of the division on October 7, 2017, and its leaders were known as Mazen Jawad, Yahya al-Saqer, and Muhammad Khaled Ahmed Taha.

The group joined the Salvation Army on May 26, 2018, and participated in several alliances and military operations rooms, most notably: the Supreme Military Council in Nawa, the Southern Forces Alliance, the Nawa Operations Room, the Operations Room and Sit-in, and the Southern Storm Operations Room.

Ideology

Firqat Ahrar Nawa has been described as adhering to moderate Syrian nationalist ideals consistent with the mainstream Southern Front factions. It is not known to have an Islamist orientation and has reportedly avoided alignment with extremist or jihadist groups.

Area of operations

The group was based primarily in the town of Nawa, located in the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria. This region was a stronghold for the Southern Front and other rebel groups during the conflict.

The group was active in the cities and towns of Nawa, Muzayrib, Izraa, Tzil, Al-Shajara, Al-Sanamayn, and Sheikh Miskin. It also participated in several military battles, most notably: "The Battle of Death and Not Humiliation", "The Battle of the Conquerors", "The Battle for Control of the Village of Jadia", "The Battle of Removing Daggers", and "The Battle of the Southern Storm".

Support and cooperation with Israel

Multiple media reports have indicated that Firqat Ahrar Nawa was one of at many Syrian rebel groups to receive support from Israel during the war. The support included financial assistance, fuel, food, and medical aid. This backing was part of a broader Israeli effort to establish a buffer zone along the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and to deter Iranian and Hezbollah influence in the region.

In at least one instance, video footage showed crates with Hebrew writing being unloaded near Nawa, allegedly containing military supplies. The group’s cooperation with Israel was reportedly conditional on its distance from Islamist groups and its willingness to counter pro-Iranian militias.

The group’s alleged collaboration with Israel has been controversial. Pro-government media and opposition figures accused it of betraying Syrian sovereignty. Supporters of the group argued that the relationship with Israel was pragmatic and aimed at resisting the Syrian regime and Iranian expansion.

See also

• Fursan al-Joulan
• Southern Front (Syrian rebel group)
• Israeli involvement in the Syrian civil war
• Iran–Israel proxy conflict