Syrian Army’s Palestinian Popular Allies Play Key Role in Defeating ISIL

The source said that most of the Palestinian units fight side-by-side with the Syrian Army, but groups like the Al-Quds Brigade, Galilee Forces, Arab Nationalist Guard (pan-Arab paramilitary), and Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) have been known to lead their own operations in the Syrian Desert, often coordinating with the Syrian Air Force to attack ISIL.

The Palestinian pro-Damascus fighters are now turning their attention to the Deir Ezzur, where they hope to help lift long-term siege imposed by the ISIL on the provincial capital, the source added.

The source went on to say that with their fighting experience in rural Damascus (PLA and Arab Nationalist Guard) and Aleppo (Galilee Forces and Al-Quds Brigade), these Palestinian combatants will prove even more vital as the battle reaches the doorsteps of Deir Ezzur.

The National Defense Forces (NDF), Liwa Fatemiyoun forces, Hezbollah, and several Palestinian popular units were the allies that supported the army during the offensive.

Media reports said in late 2016 that hundreds of Liwa al-Quds forces were deployed in Western Aleppo to participate in operations to establish security in al-Menyan, Jam’iyat al-Zahra, Dhahiyeh al-Assad and Assad Military-Engineering Academy regions.

The precise number of Liwa al-Quds forces stationed in Western Aleppo was not declared but certain media activists estimated the number to stand between 1,500 to 5,500.

Other field sources also said that almost 4,000 logistical forces were sent to the Northern fronts of Aleppo.