Hamza Brigade
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The Hamza Brigade was a Free Syrian Army unit originating in southern al-Hasakah governorate. It was formed in July 2013 by Yasser Abu al-Sheikh. The group engaged in clashes with the Assad government before being chased out of al-Hasakah along with other rebels by the YPG. Relocating to Aleppo, the Hamza Brigade maintained a fairly low profile. In late 2014 it renamed to the Gathering of Mujahideen Companies and joined the Levant Front in early 2015. By this time, Syrian Arab Army defector 1st Lt. Sayf Balud led the group. Tension within the group developed over the course of 2015 regarding strategy and ideology. The original leader, Yasser Abu al-Sheikh, accused Sayf Balud of working too closely with radical jihadist groups and turning the brigade into a criminal gang. Sheikh and some of his followers split in December and revived the Hamza Brigade name, while Balud remained in charge of the Gathering of Mujahideen Companies (the latter left the Levant Front soon after).
Al-Sheikh and his group soon became part of the US military's Train & Equip Program. Though small compared to some other Aleppo-based groups, the Hamza Brigade became an important force against ISIS and later the Islamic Emirate in northern Aleppo, especially around al-Bab and al-Rai. In April 2016 it formed the 99th Division with two other Train & Equip affiliates.