The Alawite Insurgency in Syria: Interview with Fawj Azra’Il Al-Jabal

While ‘Coastal Shield’ is the most familiar brand of Alawite insurgent groups that have arisen since the fall of the Assad regime, there are other Alawite insurgent formations as well such as ‘Fawj Azra’il al-Jabal’ (‘Azra’il of the Mountain Regiment’), led by Abu Ali Sumer, who was part of Suhayl al-Hasan’s Russian-backed ‘Tiger Forces’ prior to the fall of the regime.

Unsurprisingly, a number of observers will be inclined to designate this group, which has recently come to wider attention, an example of ‘regime remnants.’ However, I am personally skeptical of this label and its wider application more generally (for reasons I will explain in a subsequent post). If observers want to understand the outlook and views of these Alawite insurgent groups, it is actually not too difficult to reach out to them. Indeed, I was able to briefly interview Abu Ali Sumer today and ask him about his group, his aims and his outlook on the situation in Syria. In fact I suspect that some of what Abu Ali says would likely annoy some Westerners who supported the Assad regime on the basis of ideological identification with ‘anti-imperialism’ and the ‘axis of resistance.’

Image: Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

Q: How do you assess the current situation in Syria and what are the regiment’s aims?

A: Dear brother, we know that the war that lasted for 14 years and called for ‘bringing down the regime’ was in reality a sectarian war against the Alawites and Shia. This also become clear from what happened after the former regime fell with the attacks and harassment of members of the Alawite sect and then the massacres on the coast. Had the massacres and harassment not happened, we would not have mobilised to defend ourselves and our people. Our aims are to establish a federal system with an Alawite region on the coast in order to protect ourselves and our people. We will not abandon our armed struggle until all of Jowlani’s soldiers leave the borders of the coastal region.

Q: What do you think of the application of the term ‘regime remnants’ to the regiment?

A: I am not with Bashar al-Assad or his family, nor am I striving to revive the former regime. I am only concerned for the Alawite sect and protecting it from massacres, killing and oppression, especially given that the one who has taken control of the Syrian state was on the terrorism blacklists and was a former member of Daesh [Islamic State].

Q: But the regiment says it is affiliated with the ‘Tiger Forces’? So what’s your relation with Suhayl al-Hasan and his Tiger Forces?

A: What is meant by that is that the regiment has personnel and officers who were affiliated with the Tiger Forces and in fact still are. Outwardly, the Tiger Forces were affiliated with the Syrian Arab Army but in fact were affiliated with the Russians. The same goes for Suhayl al-Hasan: he was not with Assad but rather the Russians.

Q: Is it possible for there to be co-existence with Sunnis?

A: After the massacres that happened in the coastal region, no, but the Sunnis who live on the coastal region and want to live in the Alawite region and not attack us are most welcome to stay.

Q: There is a lot of talk about Iran supporting ‘regime remnants’ on the coast. What’s your comment on that?

A: I am not with Iran’s project at all. Iran did nothing to support the Alawites during the massacres on the coast. The truth is that Iran is ready to support Jowlani’s government if the latter is willing to fight Israel.

Q: And finally what’s your position on the state of Israel?

A: Dear brother, any state that wants to protect the Alawites and stand with us, whether Israel or others, then I am with that state.

Published originally on November 7, 2025.