Profile: Furqat al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih (SNA)

Jan 30, 2024

Furqat al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih - فرقة السلطان محمد الفاتح - Fatih Sultan Mehmet Tümeni

‘Sultan Mehmet Fatih division’

Basic information:

Formed in 2012 in Aleppo, making it one of the oldest continuously operating factions in the SNA
Ethnic Turkmen identity, named for the Ottoman Sultan who conquered Constantinople/Istanbul in 1453
A member of the SNA since its founding on December 30 2017, affiliated with the First Legion
Took part in Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield (2016), Operation Olive Branch (2018), and Operation Peace Spring (2019)
Part of the “13th Division” coalition with Liwa’ al-Waqqas and Liwa’ Samarqand
Size estimate: small, under 1,000 fighters
Primarily active in Afrin and Euphrates Shield

Leadership:

Doğan Süleyman (دوغان سليمان)

Commander of faction since at least April 2016

Mahmut Süleyman Zengin

Founding commander (see formation videos below)
Active until at least April 2016
Spelled محمود سليمان زنغين in this April 2016 article, though potentially actually spelled زنكين… he was almost always referred to as محمود سليمان so it’s unclear

Muhammed Fayyad Suleiman “Abu ‘Abdullah”

A founding commander
b. 1974 in Ra‘il, northern Aleppo
d. Sep 2012 in Suleiman al-Halabi district of Aleppo city

Zakariya Wali

Military commander c. Feb 2017

Muhammed Dallah “Abu Tawfiq”

Military commander killed in June 2013
Involved in the December 2012 battle for the Aleppo Infantry School

Areas of activity:

Afrin (southwestern Rajo)
Euphrates Shield (Ra ‘il, eastern al-Bab front lines)

SNA unit number:

First Legion, 13th Division, 131st Brigade

Intra-SNA affiliations:

13th Division (May 28 2021 - )
‘Azm (Aug 20 2021 - defunct)

Sub-factions/entities or mergers:

Saraya 151, c. early 2016

Faction History:

Founded in “mid-2012 under the leadership of ‘Abu Fayyad,’ the battalion’s commander and founder, who was killed in clashes in the Suleiman al-Halabi neighborhood. The battalion launched from the Turkmen villages in the northern and eastern side of Aleppo, especially the village of al-Ghandourah. ”
Was part of Liwa’ al-Tawhid from July - October 2012
Received Turkish support since at least late 2012
“Kata’ib al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih” affirming support for the Syrian National Coalition (Nov 21 2012)
“Liwa’ al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih” formation video (Jan 3 2013) [name changed from kata’ib/battalions to liwa’/brigade]
Was involved in late September 2013 fighting around the town of al-Safirah, likely the furthest south the faction was ever active
Member of Fatah Halab Operations Room (f. April 2015), coalition of opposition factions active in and around Aleppo city
Member of Hawar Kilis Operations Room (f. April 2016), coalition of opposition factions active in northern Aleppo
Deployed to al-Ra’i front and the battle for al-Bab city during Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield (Aug 2016 - Mar 2017)
Was involved in the battle for Aleppo city until the very end, in mid December 2016
Founded the ‘National Army Bloc’ along with Liwa’ al-Muntasir Billah and Liwa’ Samarqand on Jul 13 2017
Formed the “Third Infantry Division” in October 2017 group with Liwa’ al-Waqqas and Liwa’ al-Fatah/Qa’idat al-Ghazl. This entity with the three same factions seems to have turned into the SNA First Legion’s 13th Division after the SNA was formed two months later.
Mentioned in November 2017 al-Modon article as part of Turkish train and equip program that soon became the SNA
Deployed to southern Rajo front during Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch (Jan - Mar 2018)
Deployed to Tell Abyad/ ‘Ain ‘Isa front during Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring
Deployed contingent to Idlib and western Aleppo during the Spring 2020 regime offensive
Changed their name from Liwa’ al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih (TR: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Tugayı) to Furqat al-Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih (TR: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Tümeni) sometime in mid-2020

Lineage:

Turkmen brigades from Turkmen villages in northern and eastern Aleppo countryside (Ra‘il, al-Ra‘i, Turkmen Barih, al-Ghandourah etc.), Turkmen neighborhoods in Aleppo city (al-Halluk, Ba‘idin, al-Haydariyah, al-Sheikh Faris, al-Sheikh Khidr)