The 13th Division originated in March 2012 under the name of the "Slaves of Mercy Brigade" and grew that year to 1,000 men according to its leader Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saoud, who defected from the
Syrian Army. In 2013 the group was incorporated into the
Free Syrian Army as the 13th Division.
Clashes with al-Qaeda In November 2014, the 13th Division and the
al-Nusra Front clashed in
Jabal Zawiya as part of the
al-Nusra Front-SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict. Al-Nusra reportedly declared war on rebel factions receiving Western military support. However, fighting between the two groups soon ceased because the 13th Division "did not wanted to share the same fate as the
Hazzm Movement", which was defeated and dissolved by al-Nusra. On 13 March 2016, the al-Nusra Front and
Jund al-Aqsa seized the headquarters of the 13th Division after an
overnight battle for control of
Maarrat al-Nu'man. Division 13 was involved in a truce with the Syrian army since February 27. Several fighters have deserted before the conflict with the Nusra began. Division 13 has confirmed that al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa captured all of their weapons. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 after local demonstrations used the
Syrian independence flag, rather than the
black flag of jihad. According to a report released by the Free Syrian Army, Jabhat al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa attacked their bases in Ma'arat al-Nu'man, killing 4 of their combatants and wounding as many as 20 others during a fierce battle between the groups. The Division 13 members stated that they could not hold their ground against al-Qaeda militants, so they surrendered two of their storage facilities that allegedly stored U.S. manufactured TOW anti-tank missiles as well as seizing armored vehicles, a tank, and other arms. Experts have stated that ultimately, "There will be localized clashes, but not necessarily full-blown civil war. In Maarat al-Numan it's easier to take on Nusra as Division 13 is stronger and there isn't a Jaysh al-Fatah administration". On 18 July 2016, the al-Nusra Front was accused of kidnapping Zaher al-Ahmad, the commander of the division's 56th Infantry Brigade en route from Maarat al-Numan to Aleppo. On 5 April 2017, a vehicle carrying Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saud and
Colonel Ali al-Samahi, the
chief of staff of the
Free Idlib Army and formerly a commander in the 13th Division, came under fire from
Tahrir al-Sham fighters at a checkpoint near Khan al-Subul, which was under complete control of Tahrir al-Sham. Al-Samahi and another fighter was killed in the shootout while al-Saud was wounded and was transferred to Turkey for treatment. From 6 to 8 June, clashes broke out between Tahrir al-Sham and Sham Legion in
Maarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June, HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the brother of Col. Ali al-Samahi and the head of the Free Police in the town. On 9 June, Tahrir al-Sham announced the completion of their operations against the FSA and took full control of the town. Later that day, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded. == Strength, structure ==