[8] Founded in 2011, the Northern Storm Brigade took part in the rebel conquest of Azaz and the Siege of Menagh Air Base.

[2] The group's former leader Ammar Ibrahim Dadikhi was severely wounded in the middle of January 2013, during the siege of Menagh Air Base, which resulted in him losing one of his legs[9] and eventually his life.

Two senior commanders (Hadi Salo and Samir Akkash) were also killed in this period, while other members of the group defected to Islamic rebel formations.

Following this incident ISIL fought the Northern Storm Brigade and other groups in the area eventually taking over the city of Azaz.

The Northern Storm Brigade claimed ISIL had not held up its end of the agreement, along with another local group known as Ahrar Azaz.