Absi al-Taha (Arabic: عبسي الطه), better known by his nom de guerre Abu Omar al-Idlibi (Arabic: أبو عمر الإدلبي), is a Syrian military leader who is a commander of the Northern Democratic Brigade of the Syrian Democratic Forces, leading the group in the Raqqa Governorate.[3]
Absi al-Taha | |
|---|---|
.png) al-Idlibi in 2018 | |
| Native name | Arabic: عبسي الطه |
| Other name(s) | Abu Omar al-Idlibi (Arabic: أبو عمر الإدلبي) |
| Born | Idlib Governorate, Syria |
| Allegiance |  Syrian Arab Republic (2011)[1]
 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (2015–present) |
| Branch |  Syrian Arab Army (2011)
 Syrian Democratic Forces (2015–present) |
| Years of service | 2011–present |
| Unit |
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| Commands |
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| Battles / wars | Syrian Civil War |
Pre-war
editPrior to the Syrian Civil War, Abu Omar al-Idlibi worked as a construction developer.[1]
Syrian Civil War
editWith the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, al-Idlibi was conscripted into the Syrian Arab Army to lead a tank platoon as a second lieutenant. He and his unit defected to the Free Syrian Army when his village in the Idlib Governorate was attacked.[1]
In July 2014, al-Idlibi accused the al-Nusra Front of committing massacres in the Darkush area of western Idlib, citing the killing and beheading of a FSA fighter by al-Nusra fighters in the village of al-Ghafir.[4]
In August 2017, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham executed Osama al-Khader, commander of the Decisive Storm Brigade of the 21st Combined Forces, on charges including collaboration with al-Idlibi to conduct espionage and sabotage against HTS and other groups in Idlib.[5]
The human rights group Syrians for Truth and Justice reported that the Northern Democratic Brigade confiscated dozens of deserted and unused houses in Raqqa from February 2020. When some owners returned to the city to request the return of their properties to reclaim or sell them, Abu Omar al-Idlibi and the unit refused to return the houses, citing their previous non-usage and the need to provide a place to live for the brigade's families.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dominique Plewes (30 September 2021). "Abu Omar Al-Idlibi: The Man Behind Idlib's Future". LinkedIn.
- ^ a b "Raqqa: The Northern Democratic Brigade Arbitrarily Seizes over 80 Houses". Syrians For Truth and Justice. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Musab Al Hammadi (18 July 2014). "How did Darkush revolutionaries pay the price of a clean-up campaign of "adultery" launched by Al-Nusra!". Orient News.
- ^ ""Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" reveals the reasons for executing the commander of the "Decisive Storm" Brigade, Osama al-Khidr". El-Dorar al-Shamiya. 23 August 2017.