In an earlier post, I made reference to the Jisr al-Shughur massacre in 2011, which was committed by Syrian insurgents against the personnel of a unit of the military intelligence (aka "military security") stationed in the town of Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib province in northwest Syria. The massacre was falsely portrayed to the outside world at the time as the Syrian government's killing of supposed military defectors. In fact, what happened was that insurgents overwhelmed and wiped out a military intelligence unit in the town. The incident itself, which took place in June 2011, is noteworthy in that it illustrates that there was already an active insurgency within the first few months of the uprising.
For the sake of historical reference, I present below a translated account (slightly edited for clarity) of the massacre written in 2020 by Feda Ibrahim Fakhro, a government loyalist who originates from the Idlib locality of Ishtabraq, whose inhabitants were subject to a massacre at the hands of the insurgents when they overran Ishtabraq in 2015. Feda's brother Fakhr was among the personnel of the Military Security unit in Jisr al-Shughur.
According to Feda's account, 120 personnel were killed. He gives the names of 72 of those personnel, and six of them originating from Ishtabraq.
 Muhammad Ali Ahmad, one of the slain members of the Military Security unit. |
 Mural featuring dozens of slain personnel of the unit, including unit head Feda Dheya Ahmad. |
On this day of 5 June 2020, which is the ninth anniversary of the massacre of the Military Security unit in Jisr al-Shughur (5 June 2011).
The place: the massacre of the Military Security unit in the town of Jisr al-Shughur
The number of martyrs: 120 heroes.
The head of the unit: the heroic martyr, the honorary lieutenant Fida' Ahmad (Abu Ya'arab)
The event: On the morning of Friday, 5 June 2011, after 12 noon and on Saturday 6 June 2011:
In accordance with the plan laid out for them by their masters from Turkey and Israel, groups of terrorists, the beasts of treachery, murderous gangs and those who joined them from the scum of society (criminals, wanted persons, druggies and others) began the attack on the governmental and service offices and the security bases, including the base of the Military Security unit in Jisr- the postal building unit
They attacked in large numbers, using various kinds of weapons, mortars and explosive barrels and those filled with dynamite. They besieged those bases and regrettably all of them fell into the hands of those gangs, except that of the unit, as its fighters decided to be steadfast and resist to the last drop of blood and last of their bullets, and not hand over the bases or surrender.
Indeed there was a great difference between the unit's capabilities on the one hand and the terrorist hangs on the other (in terms of manpower and ammunition). However, the will of defiance, steadfastness and defending the homeland was greater among the men of the Syrian Arab Army: the personnel of that unit.
The most barbaric killing and defiling of corpses were committed, and some of the men's bodies were thrown from the floors of the buildings and into the Orontes River. Those barbaric acts showed that the aim and planning against Syria, her people, her army and her leadership were great.
The vision of the leadership in Syria told the truth later in saying that there is a great conspiracy against Syria. The external intervention became apparent- in particular the intervention of the Turkish regime that opened camps and opened the borders since April 2011 in order to wage war on Syrian sovereignty.
The lack of concern and condemnation of that massacre by those states in the UN (a great number of whose ambassadors were present when the mass graves of the security forces were revealed) ensured that there would be international coverage for the continuation of the war. The lack of concern and condemnation also opened the space for the committing of other massacres against the Syrian people. These massacres took place over the course of six years, and still continue.
Neither the geography nor history provided mediation for the locality of Ishtabraq (which was a neighbourhood of Jisr al-Shughur), with six of the locality's sons being targeted in that massacre. For the perpetrators were criminals who defy history and values.
It should be noted that the locality of Ishtabraq was besieged by those gangs for 40 days, and the locality was steadfast and repelled those gangs that tried to seize it after the town of Jisr al-Shughur, until the Syrian Arab Army arrived and broke the siege of Ishtabraq and the town.
With regards to all those who speak about the so-called revolution and its peaceful nature inside and outside Syria: that massacre comes to expose their criminal intentions against the Syrian people.
We the relatives of the heroic martyrs and victims of that massacre say and affirm that we will not forsake our homeland, land and sovereignty, and we will not forget or forgive those who did us wrong and destroyed our homeland.
We will finish the path our heroes began upon in defence and dignity.
In conclusion:
Roses, aromatic plants, incense and the flower of jasmine be upon the souls of our heroic martyrs.
Support for the homeland's leader, Marshal Bashar al-Assad.
Near victory for the Syrian Arab Army over the forces of treachery and terrorism, whether anyone likes it or not.
Mercy be upon our noble martyrs in that fort and national epic battle, and loyalty to our noble martyrs, and regards for their great sacrifices.
 Tahir Hamdan (al-)Shahin, another slain member of the Military Security unit. |
The names of the martyrs of the Military Security unit in Jisr al-Shughur on 5 and 6 June:
First warrant officers:
1. Feda Dheya' Ahmad (head of the unit)
2. Mustafa Isa al-Saleh
3. Muhammad Ali Ahmad
4. Tahir Hamdan Shahin
5. Yunis Ali al-Khidhri
6. Riyadh Ismail al-Masri
7. Ali Yusuf Shama
8. Husayn Saleh Hanto
9. Muhsin Hasan Salim
10. Muhib Muhammad Khalifah
11. Yusuf Hasan Aqil
12. Radhwan Muhammad Abidi
13. Muhammad Ghazzal Sharif
14. Nizham al-Din Ahmad Hasan
15. Muhammad Qasim al-Qasim
16. Kamal Mahmud Ibrahim
17. Adib Husayn Qal'aji
18. Husayn Ali Radhwan
19. Muhammad Ahmad Fakhro
20. Majdi Mari'i Raziq
21. Adib Dawud al-Khatib
22. Akram Dhahi Ibrahim
23. Muhammad Mahmud Mahmud
24. Husayn Ali Habib
25. Adnan Sulayman al-Sadqa
26. Nidhal Mahmud Mazhlum
27. Samir Diyub Asi
28. Badr Musa Shahin
29. Nabih Ahmad al-Mahmud
30. Samir Hasan Ahmad
31. Himam Adnan Yusuf
32. Yasir Ismail al-Masri
33. Tha'ir Hasan Fahad
34. Mahmud Hasan Ladhaqani
35. Yusuf Ali Ahmad
36. Ahmad Aziz Ali
37. Qays Abd al-Karim Ammar
38. Abdo Muhammad Ahmad
39. Ghayth Ali Hamishah
40. Aysar Yahya Batah
41. Zuhayr Abdullah Qamur
42. Yasir Kamil Sulayman
Warrant officers:
43. Bassam Basim al-Ra'i
44. Bassam Isa Hasan
45. Ammar Barakat Ismail
46. Muhammad Karim Hamud
47. Nabil Wajih Qasim
48. Muhammad Ali al-Qayyim
49. Tha'ir Muhammad Rustum
Sergeant majors:
50. Madah Muhammad Muhammad
51. Fakhr Ibrahim Fakhro
52. Basim Wahid Muhraz
Sergeants
54. Firas Mayhub Asi
55. Anas Sulayman Khadra
Warrant officers
56. Mahmud Yahya Fakhro
57. Ali Mahmud Hasan
Remainder
58. Mahmud Ahmad Sinior (sergeant major- conscript)
59. Ahmad Abd al-Hamid Hamad (sergeant- conscript)
60. Firas Ibrahim al-Khalaf (corporal- conscript)
61. Muhammad Abadi Bakuri (corporal)
62. Mahmud Muhammad al-Ahmad (conscript)
63. Muhamamd Khalil al-Halabi (conscript)
64. Isam Mahmd Ghanam (conscript)
65. Muhammad Najib Qal'aji (conscript)
66. Nizar Muhammad Harshi (conscript)
67. Ghadir Nabil Nasir (conscript)
68. Naji Sulayman Ways (conscript)
69. Muhammad al-Ahmad Izz al-Din (corporal)
70. Asif Hasan Ali (sergeant major)
71. Hasan Mhammad Salah Amil
72. Tha'ir Hasan Fahad
There are names of 48 other martyrs
Latakia- Syria: 5 June 2020
Note:
The martyrs of the locality of Ishtabraq in that massacre:
1. Honorary lieutenant Fakhr Ibrahim Fakhro
2. Honorary lieutenant Muhammad Ahmad Fakhro
3. Honorary lieutenant Mahmud Yahya Fakhro
4. Honorary lieutenant Riyadh Ismail al-Masri
5. Honorary lieutenant Yasir Ismail al-Masri
6. Honorary lieutenant Mustafa Saleh
More photos of the 'martyrs' of the massacre:
