A militant group which opposes both ISIS and the Syrian regime has released a striking video and photos showing off 1,700 troops, fleet of armoured tanks and special forces soldiers in an impressive military parade. These men form a small part of
Jaysh Al-Islam - or Army of Islam - who reportedly command as many as 25,000 loyal fighters following the merger of up to 60 rebel factions inside Syria.
Dozens of masked special units show off a range of skills including close-range combat in what the group claims is the 'largest military parade witnessed' since the dawn of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
The group operates in the embattled Syrian city of Damascus and their ongoing battle against
President Bashar Al-Assad is reportedly funded by the wealthy nation of Saudi Arabia. The Arab kingdom has sent millions of dollars to arm and train their fighters so they can defeat the Syrian regime and 'increasingly powerful Jihadi organisations', according to
The Guardian.
Known as the Army of Islam, the insurgent group was created in 2011 when Saudi Arabia allegedly engineered the merger of over 50 rebel factions after growing alarmed at the rise if
Al-Qaeda and
ISIS in Syria. It is a fierce enemy of both Islamist groups as well as
Jabhat Al-Nusra, but embraces independent rebel forces and 'non-Jihadi' units.
Their graduation ceremony for trainee soldiers in the Ghouta suburb of Damascus was attended by the militants' leadership who watch proudly as their troops march in perfect unison across the expanse.
Jaysh Al-Islam is led by
Sheikh Zahran Aloush who addresses the thousands of armed soldiers and tanks once they have assembled on the vast concrete ground.
Culled from: DailyMail.com
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