Quwat al-Ridha
| Quwat al-Ridha قوات الرضا | |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 2013 – ?[1] |
| Active regions | Homs Governorate Rif Dimashq Governorate Aleppo Governorate Daraa Governorate |
| Ideology | Shia Islamism Khomeinism |
| Size | 20,000 estimated (August 2015)[2] 3,000–3,500 (Council on Foreign Relations claim, 2024)[3] |
| Part of |  Syrian Hezbollah (fa) |
| Allies |  Iran  Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force |
| Opponents |  Free Syrian Army Islamic Front al-Nusra Front Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
| Flag |  |
The Al-Ridha Forces (Arabic: قوات الرضا, romanized: Quwwat ar-Riḍā) are a Hezbollah-trained and affiliated militia that was active alongside Syrian government forces in the Syrian Civil War prior to Assad's fall in December 2024.[1][4] Its members belong to Syria's small Twelver Shia community, mainly from the Homs region which houses around 170,000 Shiites.[2] Its name refers to the eighth Twelver Shia Imam, Ali al-Ridha.[1] Quwat al-Ridha forces had an effective presence in the operations that led to the liberation of Homs and the Battle of Shaer gas field against ISIS.[2]
References
- ^ a b c "Quwat al-Ridha: Syrian Hezbollah". Joshua Landis. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ a b c "Syrian Shiites Take Up Arms in Support of Assad's Army". US News. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ Iran's Regional Armed Network
- ^ "Hezbollah: Quwat al-Ridha". Jihad Intel. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
