Ahrar al-Najran

The Ahrar al-Najran (Arabic: أحرار النجران‎ ʾAḥrār an-Najrān, "Free Ones of the Najran") movement is an alleged secessionist group in southern Saudi Arabia that arose in response to the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war that started in 2015. Information on the alleged group has come almost exclusively from Iranian and allied Syrian media, with no independent corroboration on them. Since the summer of 2015 there have been no further reports on the alleged group.[2]

Map of Saudi Arabia, Najran Region shaded
Ahrar al-Najran
أحرار النجران
LeadersTribal alliance, thus multiple leaders:
  • Abu Bakr Abi Ahmed al-Salami[1]
Dates of operationJune 2015–present
Active regionsNajran Region, Saudi Arabia
IdeologySeparatism
Shia muslims interests
Anti-imperialism
Anti-Zionism
Allies Houthis
Opponents Saudi Arabia

History

The Najran Region, as well as the 'Asir and Jizan regions, was previously claimed by the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. These regions joined the first Saudi state and then became independent before rejoining Saudi Arabia from 1922 to 1926. The first Saudi-Yemeni war draw the borders between the two countries. Besides the eastern provinces in the country, the aforementioned province has an important Shia presence. When the Houthi uprising in Yemen started and Saudi Arabia eventually intervened, Najran as a border province became part of the clashes and tribal forces in the region began to form, with Ahrar Al-Najran reportedly being an alliance of them.

See also

References
  1. "How Saudi Arabia's aggressive foreign policy is playing against itself". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. "Saudi Arabia's Yemen Intervention: A High Risk Gamble?". The Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
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