Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Syrian Civil War and Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Free Syrian Army |
Al-Nusra Front Jund al-Aqsa | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saud (Division 13 chief commander) Maj. Mousa al-Khalad [3] (Division 13 commander) Zaher al-Ahmad ( POW) (56th Infantry Brigade commander) [4] Capt. Ali al-Salloum ( POW) (Victory Brigade commander) [5] Zakaria Quitaz (Division 13 media official) [4] |
Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir) [6] | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Unknown | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
Entire division: around 1,000 fighters | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
7 killed, [1] 40+ captured [6] | 4 killed [1] | ||||||
On 13 March 2016, jihadist fighters from al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against the 13th Division headquarters in the town of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations. [7] [8] [9]
The Division headquarters located in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man was overrun in a nighttime attack by a joint Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Asqa assault force. [5] Two Division storage facilities that were allegedly filled with the U.S.-built anti-tank TOW missiles were surrendered to the attackers. [8] This claim was denied by Division 13 leader Ahmad al-Sa'aoud, insisting Al-Nusra Front captured only 'light weapons and ammunition' and that all of the groups anti-tank missiles and mortars were secured. [10] The Division 13’s depots in Maarat al-Nu'maan and three nearby towns were overrun; Hesh, Khan Shaykhun and Tal Aas. An unspecified number of armored vehicles and a tank were reportedly captured. [6] [5] Al-Nusra fighters conducted door-to-door searches, ultimately detaining 40 Division fighters including several top leaders of the rebel group. By the end of the battle, Division 13 abandoned all its posts in Maarat al-Nu'man and the bulk of its leadership fled to Turkey. [11] However, civilians opposed to the takeover took to the streets and stormed Nusra's HQ in the city, freeing some prisoners. [12] A total of 11 combatants died during the clashes. [5]
Unrest and civilian resistance against al-Nusra rule continued for coming months. On 12 June 2016, a demonstration took place in Maarat al-Nu'man against al-Nusra's authoritarianism, with protestors calling Abu Muhammed al-Jolani an "Iranian nark". [13]
From 6 to 8 June of the next year, clashes broke out between Tahrir al-Sham and Sham Legion in Maarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June, HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the head of the Free Police in the town. [14] On 9 June, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded. [15]
{{
cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Syrian Civil War and Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Free Syrian Army |
Al-Nusra Front Jund al-Aqsa | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saud (Division 13 chief commander) Maj. Mousa al-Khalad [3] (Division 13 commander) Zaher al-Ahmad ( POW) (56th Infantry Brigade commander) [4] Capt. Ali al-Salloum ( POW) (Victory Brigade commander) [5] Zakaria Quitaz (Division 13 media official) [4] |
Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir) [6] | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Unknown | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
Entire division: around 1,000 fighters | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
7 killed, [1] 40+ captured [6] | 4 killed [1] | ||||||
On 13 March 2016, jihadist fighters from al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against the 13th Division headquarters in the town of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations. [7] [8] [9]
The Division headquarters located in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man was overrun in a nighttime attack by a joint Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Asqa assault force. [5] Two Division storage facilities that were allegedly filled with the U.S.-built anti-tank TOW missiles were surrendered to the attackers. [8] This claim was denied by Division 13 leader Ahmad al-Sa'aoud, insisting Al-Nusra Front captured only 'light weapons and ammunition' and that all of the groups anti-tank missiles and mortars were secured. [10] The Division 13’s depots in Maarat al-Nu'maan and three nearby towns were overrun; Hesh, Khan Shaykhun and Tal Aas. An unspecified number of armored vehicles and a tank were reportedly captured. [6] [5] Al-Nusra fighters conducted door-to-door searches, ultimately detaining 40 Division fighters including several top leaders of the rebel group. By the end of the battle, Division 13 abandoned all its posts in Maarat al-Nu'man and the bulk of its leadership fled to Turkey. [11] However, civilians opposed to the takeover took to the streets and stormed Nusra's HQ in the city, freeing some prisoners. [12] A total of 11 combatants died during the clashes. [5]
Unrest and civilian resistance against al-Nusra rule continued for coming months. On 12 June 2016, a demonstration took place in Maarat al-Nu'man against al-Nusra's authoritarianism, with protestors calling Abu Muhammed al-Jolani an "Iranian nark". [13]
From 6 to 8 June of the next year, clashes broke out between Tahrir al-Sham and Sham Legion in Maarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June, HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the head of the Free Police in the town. [14] On 9 June, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded. [15]
{{
cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)