Ajnad al-Kavkaz
| Soldiers of the Caucasus Ajnad al-Kavkaz | |
|---|---|
| Arabic: أجناد القوقاز | |
Flag of Ajnad al-Kavkaz. | |
| Leaders |
|
| Dates of operation | 2015–present |
| Active regions | |
| Ideology | Sunni Islamic fundamentalism
Anti-Russian North Caucasian separatism |
| Size |
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| Part of | Army of Conquest (formerly) |
| Allies | Ukraine Tarkhan's Jamaat |
| Opponents | Ba'athist Syria Iran Russia |
| Wars | Syrian Civil War |
Ajnad al-Kavkaz (AK or AAK; Arabic: أجناد القوقاز, romanized: Ajnād al-Qawqāz, lit. 'Soldiers of the Caucasus') is a Chechen-led militant group which emerged in northwestern Syria, operating primarily in the mountainous and forested areas of Latakia Governorate. Although it was formed by former fighters of the Caucasus Emirate and was tentatively linked to the organization, AK operated autonomously from the beginning and later cut ties with the Caucasus Emirate. Though it had become "the largest of the Muslim factions from the former Soviet Union fighting in Syria" by September 2016, AK's activity dwindled in the following years.
In 2022, the group's centre of operations shifted from Syria to Ukraine, as most AK militants had begun mobilizing to fight against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine-based AK forces were primarily engaged in the battle of Bakhmut in 2023. The Syrian branch of the group took part in the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives which led to the fall of the Assad regime, but was subsequently pressured by the new Syrian transitional government to integrate into the Syrian Army's 84th Division.