Uli al-Baas, Part One: A New Islamic Resistance Front in Syria?
Mar 9, 2025
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Part of a series: Militia Spotlight
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A newly formed armed muqawama group emerged online in Syria since January, vowing to resist Israeli presence and Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa.
In a branding process trailing back to December, the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might (Uli al-Baas or UAB for short) has emerged as the first major new muqawama militant group in post-Assad Syria. But how real are they, and what can analysts infer from their propaganda and claimed activities so far? In this short two-parter, we first lay out the chronology of UAB’s recent emergence and then (in part two) draw out some analytical findings about the group’s likely role in the Iran Threat Network.
The apparent origin of UAB
On December 17, 2024, the Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) called for “the establishment of a front to liberate southern Syria” from the “Jewish aggression against Syria” and to “work towards liberating all the occupied territories [in Syria]” (Figure 1). SSNP is active in both Syria and Lebanon and has close ties with Asad’s Arab Socialist Baath Party and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On January 9, 2025, a new group, calling itself Jabhat Tahrir al-Janoub (JTJ), or the Southern Liberation Front, announced its formation via a newly launched Telegram channel in response to "the Israeli occupation’s advance into our lands in southern Syria—specifically in the governorates of Quneitra, Daraa, and the western countryside of Damascus." The group's statement emphasized its independence, asserting that it "is not directed by any party, faction, or state" (Figure 2).
On January 11, just two days after its Telegram announcement, JTJ rebranded by changing its name, logo, and declared objectives. It adopted the new name "Jabhat al-muqawama al-Islamiya fi Suria – Uli al-Baas" (Uli al-Baas, UAB, for short), which translates to The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might. The term Uli al-Baas is derived from Quranic text and appears three times in the Quran. The name could have also been derived from the 72 days of the Hezbollah-Israel battle that Naim Qassem, the secretary-general of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah called “Battle of the Uli al-Baas”. As will be discussed in part two of this analysis, the new logo adopted on January 11 strongly resembled the designs used by most IRGC-linked militias such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The group claimed that the name change occurred “due to the existence of multiple fronts with the same name.” Despite the new name including "Syria," the group continues to refer to itself as "the sons of the south" and has so far mainly claimed activities in the southern region.
Chaotic early claims of kinetic actions
On January 13, UAB claimed that it was mobilizing light armored vehicles and fighters to Quneitra, Sweida, Daraa, Damascus and its countryside. Then on January 17, the group “officially” announced “the launch of our military operations” against Israeli presence in southern Syria (Figure 3).
The first claim of a kinetic operation was posted on January 24. The statement read “One of the groups affiliated with Kataib Uli al-Baas, part of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria, shot down a drone in the Tallal Ahmar area in the countryside of Quneitra on January 21, 2025” (Figure 4). The drone was reported to be Israeli.
The second claim of a kinetic operation was posted on January 31, alleging an attack on an Israeli force in the village of Taranja in the northern countryside of Quneitra (Figure 5). However, the group has failed to provide any evidence of kinetic activity and, as part two will note, the UAB telegram account itself denied the incident on February 14.
Late February cooperation with other fronts
On February 19, UAB announced the death of two of its high ranking members, Mohannad al-Buqari (Abu Bara) and Mohammed Mansour (Abu Zain). The claim suggested Israeli military had killed the men, suggesting their involvement in operations near Israeli forces, such as Quneitra (Figure 6).
On February 21, three militia groups that self-identify with the “Axis of Resistance” announced the beginning of their cooperation. A video clip showing a masked man introduced as Miqdad Fatiha, the commander of the newly established Liwa Dir al-Saḥel (Coastal Shield Brigade) reading a statement. Fatiha who is known to be an army officer loyal to Bashar al-Asad regime said “Joint statement issued by the leadership of Liwa Dir al-Sahel in coordination with the Islamic Resistance Front – Uli al-Baas in the southern region and Dr. Abdulhamid al-Shamali, general commander of the Ghosts of the Spirit of Resistance Forces (Quwwat Ashbah Rouh al-Muqawama) in the eastern region. We hereby announce full cooperation and coordination in combating Takfiri terrorist organizations and the de facto government in Damascus until victory is achieved across all parts of the Syrian Arab Republic” (Figure 7). This video was reposted by the UAB Telegram channel as a confirmation, placing the group in direct confrontation with the new Syrian regime.
On February 27, UAB posted a video for the first time, featuring a blurred image of no more than 25 fighters in a single frame. The men are seen wearing a mix of paramilitary attire and civilian clothing, carrying personal weapons along with a few Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) (Figure 8).
On March 6, as clashes between forces loyal to the Assad regime and those of the new regime escalated in the Syrian coastal region, UAB made its first claim of a joint kinetic operation against the new Syrian regime. The statement read: “At this moment, the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Uli al-Baas and the Syrian Popular Resistance – Dir al-Sahil Forces are engaging and clashing with Takfiri terrorist gangs on multiple fronts across the occupied Syrian Arab Republic…” (Figure 9).
At the same time, the group made further claims of launching attacks against Israeli forces in Quneitra. Also on March 7, UAB claimed that one of its fighters, Mahdi Haj Ali (Abu Turab), was killed by the de facto government forces. As part two will note, sparse to no evidence has been presented of any attack by UAB against Israeli forces or the forces of the new Syrian regime.
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