Armed groups

62nd Division (Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade)

Formerly the Turkish-backed Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (“Amshat”), integrated into the army as the 62nd Division; under U.S., EU and UK sanctions.

Also known as

  • Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade
  • Amshat

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Supported by independent sources

The UN Commission of Inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that individual members of the 62nd Division committed violations during the March 2025 coastal violence. 1 The EU listed the brigade in May 2025, citing arbitrary killings of civilians on the coast; it is also under U.S. sanctions since 2023 and UK sanctions since 2025. 2 3 4

It was led by Mohammed al-Jassim (“Abu Amsha”) until he was moved to a corps post in August 2026; since 6 August 2026 it has been commanded by Omar Mohammed Jaftashi (“Mukhtar al-Turki”), a Turkish-born former HTS commander. 5 6

People and bodies linked to it

LeaderLeaderPart ofMohammed al-JassimOmar MohammedJaftashiMinistry of Defence62nd Division (SultanSuleiman Shah Brigade)
Legend
  • Supported by independent sources
  • According to testimony
  • Published allegation
  • Person
  • Organisation

Sources

  1. Official record Violence in the coastal and western central regions of Syria, January–March 2025 (A/HRC/59/CRP.4) — UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, August 11, 2025
  2. Official record Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1111 (EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime): listings of Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim, Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division — European Union, May 28, 2025
  3. Official record Treasury sanctions two Syria-based militias responsible for serious human rights abuses in northern Syria — U.S. Department of the Treasury, August 17, 2023
  4. Official record Financial Sanctions Notice: Syria (designations incl. Mohammed Hussein al-Jasim, Sayf al-Din Boulad, Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, Hamza Division) — UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, December 19, 2025
  5. Press Syria reshuffles military leadership as a controversial commander takes center stage — Alhurra, August 7, 2026
  6. Press Syria’s military is rebuilding, but foreign influence may slow security progress — FDD's Long War Journal — Ahmad Sharawi & Justin Leopold-Cohen, September 17, 2026