THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE-GENERAL COMMAND (PFLP-GC) AND THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR By Phillip Smyth* As the Asad regime’s most loyal Palestinian proxy, the PFLP-GC’s role in the conflict in Syria is of great importance. Currently, the group’s interests center on countering Syrian rebel forces in Syria and their allies in Lebanon. In this role, the PFLP-GC has suffered a number of significant losses, and for the first time in its existence is being pressed in all areas it operates. This article will focus on the Syrian Civil War’s effects on the PFLP-GC and what the future may hold for the group. Maghrabi fell to soothing, and said, rejoiced...” O my uncle, bid me do all “Obey me, therefore, in all I bid thee, thou pleasest, for I will be obedient unto and shortly thou shalt forget all this thy bidding.” – Sir Richard Burton, The travail and toil whenas thou shalt look Book of the Thousand Nights and a upon the marvel-matters I am about to Night, 1885.1 show thee” … Aladdin...was dumbed and dazed at the Maghrabi's words and BACKGROUND ON ASAD’S just one of many “Popular Front” style PALESTINIANS organizations espousing a mixture of militancy and Marxism.3 However, the PFLP-GC did From the use of barometrically detonated not fade into the history books with the bombs to destroy airliners in the 1970s, to a collapse of the Soviet Union or by being bloody hang glider attack on an Israeli folded into larger groups. Instead, the PFLP- barracks in 1987, the Popular Front for the GC made a name for itself and quickly Liberation of Palestine-General Command became a small but leading Syrian-backed (PFLP-GC) has historically demonstrated a Palestinian entity. preference for innovative and brutally violent Without the Asad regime, it is likely the tactics.2 However, the once leading state- PFLP-GC could not have continued to exist. backed international terrorist organization is Gary Gambill writes, “Of all the major now little more than a local proxy militia used Palestinian and Lebanese paramilitary groups to serve the interests of Syrian leader Bashar sponsored by Damascus, the PFLP-GC al-Asad. As Syria fractures due to the ongoing exercises the least strategic and operational civil war, the Asad regime’s utilization of their autonomy.”4 In addition, Adam Dolnik has PFLP-GC’s proxy has increased. noted the PFLP-GC has a "virtually Unfortunately for the PFLP-GC, the increased unconditional allegiance to Syria.” Dolnik utilization of its forces has also irreparably adds, “The group's relationship with Syria was damaged the organization. a key factor why Jibril never achieved the Founded in 1968 by Ahmad Jibril, the level of prominence that one might expect PFLP-GC was ostensibly created out of a based on his military excellence and a touch desire by members of the Popular Front for the for spectacular attacks.”5 Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to devote more Since the 1980s, Jibril has also joined with attention to militancy than to Marxian Asad’s primary Middle Eastern ally, the ideology. Due to the highly fractious nature of Islamic Republic of Iran. The PFLP-GC has Palestinian leftist groups, the PFLP-GC was fully adopted Iran’s rhetoric regarding “armed Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) 55 Phillip Smyth resistance” against Israel and may have with Israel, Jibril announced it would be cooperated with Tehran to assist Iran in acceptable to assassinate him.12 pursuing regional and international goals.6 Despite the organization’s over four- This has even led the group to adopt certain decade-long war against Israel and its conflict Islamist flourishes in its propaganda and to with Lebanese and other Palestinian factions praise Iran.7 during and after the Lebanese Civil War, the Over the decades, the PFLP-GC’s leader, Syrian Civil War has presented the PFLP-GC Ahmad Jibril has exhibited no qualms with with its biggest challenge in its existence. such arrangements or the adoption of new Unlike the Lebanese Civil War, the Syrian rhetorical narratives. Described by Palestinian Civil War has not allowed for the group to foes as being emblematic of “Revolutionary have a secure base. Instead the PFLP-GC is nihilism,” Jibril’s lack of ideological being attacked on all fronts; from its rural attachments and willingness to please his training bases in Lebanon’s Beq’a Valley, sponsors have been the most important urban Palestinian refugee camps near Beirut, features within the PFLP-GC.8 For Jibril, to the organization’s very own headquarters in popular acceptance by fellow Palestinians is of Damascus. If anything, the PFLP-GC is little concern. If anything, Jibril and his fighting to survive against its existential foes. cohorts have understood that their route to The group is also suffering from a number of power among Palestinians would only arise internal splits and pitfalls, which have through accepting Asad’s suzerainty. occurred due to leadership struggles, Jibril’s nearly umbilical link to first, the defections, and the age of its leaders. regime of Hafiz al-Asad and then to Bashar al- Asad is important when understanding his THE PFLP-GC ENTERS THE SYRIAN organization’s motives. His service in the FRAY AND THEIR DEFEAT IN Syrian army offers a partial explanation for his YARMOUK original closeness with Damascus. In 1961, prior to the formation of the PFLP-GC, Jibril Set-up in the late 1950s, the Palestinian had created the Palestine Liberation Front refugee camp of Yarmouk represents the (PLF). The group’s ranks were filled by largest residence for Palestinians in Syria.13 Palestinians, who like Jibril, had served in the Overtime, Yarmouk morphed from being a Syrian army.9 Hafiz al-Asad himself rose to refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus to power via the Syrian air force, and this its current state of a more mixed urban district historical military link has allowed the PFLP- of southern Damascus. Around 150,000 GC to act as a supportive body for the Syrian Palestinians live in the refugee camp-cum- military.10 With experience working with neighborhood.14 In addition to those former Syrian military personnel, the PFLP- Palestinian residents, the majority of GC found itself as the perfect Palestinian Yarmouk’s inhabitants are actually Syrians.15 entity with which the Syrian military could Since the spring of 2011, the strategically cooperate. located area and has witnessed extreme The group is also no stranger to intra- tension between residents supportive of the Palestinian fighting, especially when it was Asad regime and his Palestinian and Syrian engaged in fighting at the behest of its Syrian opposition.16 Many attacks that occurred backers. During what became known as the inside Yarmouk specifically targeted the War of the Camps, a sub-war within the larger PFLP-GC and their supporters. The first major 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War, the PFLP-GC incident occurred in June of 2011, when the and other anti-Yasir Arafat Palestinian PFLP-GC’s Yarmouk headquarters was factions attacked Arafat’s Palestinian burned by protesters.17 The protesters accused Liberation Organization.11 In 1993, due to the PFLP-GC of not properly organizing anti- Arafat’s involvement in the peace process Israel “Yawm al-Naqsa” (a day commemorating the 1967 defeat at the hands 56 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013) The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) and the Syrian Civil War of Israel) protests and of using Palestinians as would actively engage Syrian rebels and pro- pawns for the Asad regime.18 Soon after the rebel Palestinians.26 On September 7, 2012, PFLP-GC’s building was burned, the group’s the PC-YRC announced the loss of three militiamen opened fire on the protesters, members in engagements with Syrian rebels.27 killing 14 and wounding another 43.19 Rebel attacks against the PFLP-GC increased Conditions remained tense but relatively stable at the end of the summer into fall. In October well into 2012. 2012, Adel Hasan, a PFLP-GC leader, was Then, July 2012 saw a major surge in assassinated by rebel forces in the southern violence targeting pro-Asad Palestinian Palestinian refugee camp in Dar’a.28 groups. 17 members of the Damascus-run With the increasing level of engagements, Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) were disagreements between pro-Asad and anti- kidnapped as they were travelling to Aleppo. Asad Palestinians had become so great that The PLA members were later killed and only anti-Asad Palestinians joined with the Syrian 13 of their bodies were found.20 The pro- rebels and created Liwa al-Asifah (The Storm Hizballah newspaper, al-Akhbar asserted the Brigade). Reportedly, Liwa al-Asifah was kidnappings and killings of the PLA members comprised only of Palestinian recruits.29 The marked the beginning of Palestinian group also received arms from Syrian rebel involvement in the Syrian revolution.21 organizations.30 One rebel commander was The lines in Yarmouk were not always so extremely blunt when discussing what would cleanly drawn between pro and anti-Asad happen to the PFLP-GC when talking with actors. According to one activist, the Yarmouk Reuters: “Now they (the PFLP-GC fighters) camp originally had a neighborhood militia of are targets for us, targets for all the FSA. All 2,000 armed men. The group would fight “for of them with no exceptions.”31 The PFLP-GC the sake of civilians against both rebels and responded by saying Liwa Asifah was little the Syrian army.”22 As tensions between the more than a Qatari front and comprised of pro-rebel elements, Syrian rebels, and pro- “terrorists.”32 Asad residents--particularly those belonging to On October 31, 2012, Syrian rebels the PFLP-GC--a firmer polarization took hold.