The Alawite Insurgency in Syria: Interview with 'The Men of Light'

Among the Alawite insurgent groups that do not use the moniker of ‘Coastal Shield’, ‘The Men of Light’ (Rijal al-Nur), also known as ‘Saraya al-Jawad’, is one of the most prominent. The group has claimed some low-scale insurgent attacks against the new Syrian government’s forces.

As with the other Alawite insurgent groups, it is important for observers to try to understand what these groups are trying to achieve and what their outlook on Syria is. I managed to reach out to the leader of ‘The Men of Light’ and interview him. Below is the interview.

Emblem of ‘The Men of Light’

Q: When was the Men of Light formed and what were the reasons for its formation?