Eastern Qalamoun offensive (SeptemberâOctober 2016) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Jaysh al-Islam | Islamic State | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Harith Siwar (
WIA)
[3] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Salih Nouman † [4] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Abdul Rahman Abu Mansour [5] (Al-Rahman Legion deputy commander) Abu Barzan [6] (Lions of the East Army deputy commander) | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
600â1,500 fighters [5] [7] | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
24 rebels killed (ISIL claim) [8] 1 MiG-23 crashed [1] | 23â62 killed (rebel claim) [7] [9] |
The Eastern Qalamoun offensive was a large-scale military offensive against Syrian rebel positions in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains of the Rif Dimashq Governorate launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant along a frontline of more than 15 kilometers in the region. [5]
On 3 September 2016, ISIL sent two car bombs towards rebel positions in the mountains, but both were destroyed before they could reach their targets. Following this, ISIL forces stormed the rebel-held territory from three different axes, overrunning several positions and reportedly killing more than 20 rebels. [8]
Three days later, an ISIL convoy was deployed as they launched a second assault in the area. During the clashes, the rebels destroyed an ISIL T-72, a bulldozer, and a ZU-23-2, the latter with a BGM-71 TOW missile. [10] The next day, Jaysh al-Islam recaptured a hill near Dumayr from ISIL. [11]
On 9 September, ISIL launched a third attack against rebel forces in the mountains. Rebels led by Jaysh al-Islam and various Free Syrian Army factions repelled the assault and dozens of ISIL fighters were killed. [9] Hundreds of rebel reinforcements reportedly arrived in the region the next day. [7] On 13 September, ISIL recaptured the three hilltops of Jabal Zubaydi, Tall Daba'a and Jabal al-Afa'i. [2] On 14â15 September, rebels launched a counter-attack to regain Jabal al-Afa'i. [12] On 17â18 September, ISIL forces launched a successful assault against rebel positions at Badiya, killing four and capturing forty defenders, [13] while losing two vehicles in return. [14] Heavy fighting between rebels and ISIL in the area was reported on 19 September, as the ISIL offensive entered its 3rd week. [15]
On 21 September, Ahrar al-Sham and the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo recaptured the Rajem al-A'ali area, giving them the control of 40% of the al-Afa'i Mountains, while a Syrian Air Force MiG-23 targeting ISIL crashed in the region. [16] [17] Rebel forces made further progress later that day, retaking several positions at Jebal Batra. [18] The pilot of the crashed government jet landed in rebel territory in the mountains and as a result of a truce in the area, the rebels handed him over to the Syrian Armed Forces and reportedly received small arms and ammunition from government forces in return. [1] By 23 September, the rebels were in control of 70% of Jabal al-Afa'i. [19]
On 26 September, unknown gunmen attempted to assassinate Harith Siwar, commander of Jaysh al-Islam in the Eastern Qalamoun Mountains. [3] On 29 September, ISIL forces launched a new attack in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, leading to heavy clashes with the rebel defenders. [20] In the night of 1â2 October, ISIL fighters stormed eastern Jabal al-Afa'i amid heavy fighting with FSA forces. [21] Two days later, Jaysh al-Islam repelled another major ISIL attack on Jabal al-Afa'i and al-Naqab. [22] On 9 October, 12 ISIL fighters and an unknown number of rebels were killed in clashes after an attack by ISIL on al-Khandaq and al-Naqab mountain. [23] Five rebels were killed in clashes on the following day. [24] On 15 October, rebels launched an assault on Kahil Tes and Mahol areas. [25]
On 26 October, Syrian military bombarded areas under ISIL control in the region. [26] On 2 November, clashes renewed between ISIL and rebels, concentrated in the area of Jabal al-Afa'i. [27]
On 6 November, the rebels launched their own offensive, [28] [29] attacking ISIL positions. The rebels stated they had captured three checkpoints, with 7 ISIL fighters and 4 rebels being killed in the clashes. [29] With the recent advances, rebels broke the siege imposed by ISIL on them in the region and had started advancing northwards to retake territory previously captured by the group. [28]
On 29 December, FSA forces launched an offensive toward ISIL lines in the eastern Qalamoun and captured five villages. [30]
Eastern Qalamoun offensive (SeptemberâOctober 2016) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Jaysh al-Islam | Islamic State | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Harith Siwar (
WIA)
[3] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Salih Nouman † [4] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Abdul Rahman Abu Mansour [5] (Al-Rahman Legion deputy commander) Abu Barzan [6] (Lions of the East Army deputy commander) | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
600â1,500 fighters [5] [7] | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
24 rebels killed (ISIL claim) [8] 1 MiG-23 crashed [1] | 23â62 killed (rebel claim) [7] [9] |
The Eastern Qalamoun offensive was a large-scale military offensive against Syrian rebel positions in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains of the Rif Dimashq Governorate launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant along a frontline of more than 15 kilometers in the region. [5]
On 3 September 2016, ISIL sent two car bombs towards rebel positions in the mountains, but both were destroyed before they could reach their targets. Following this, ISIL forces stormed the rebel-held territory from three different axes, overrunning several positions and reportedly killing more than 20 rebels. [8]
Three days later, an ISIL convoy was deployed as they launched a second assault in the area. During the clashes, the rebels destroyed an ISIL T-72, a bulldozer, and a ZU-23-2, the latter with a BGM-71 TOW missile. [10] The next day, Jaysh al-Islam recaptured a hill near Dumayr from ISIL. [11]
On 9 September, ISIL launched a third attack against rebel forces in the mountains. Rebels led by Jaysh al-Islam and various Free Syrian Army factions repelled the assault and dozens of ISIL fighters were killed. [9] Hundreds of rebel reinforcements reportedly arrived in the region the next day. [7] On 13 September, ISIL recaptured the three hilltops of Jabal Zubaydi, Tall Daba'a and Jabal al-Afa'i. [2] On 14â15 September, rebels launched a counter-attack to regain Jabal al-Afa'i. [12] On 17â18 September, ISIL forces launched a successful assault against rebel positions at Badiya, killing four and capturing forty defenders, [13] while losing two vehicles in return. [14] Heavy fighting between rebels and ISIL in the area was reported on 19 September, as the ISIL offensive entered its 3rd week. [15]
On 21 September, Ahrar al-Sham and the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo recaptured the Rajem al-A'ali area, giving them the control of 40% of the al-Afa'i Mountains, while a Syrian Air Force MiG-23 targeting ISIL crashed in the region. [16] [17] Rebel forces made further progress later that day, retaking several positions at Jebal Batra. [18] The pilot of the crashed government jet landed in rebel territory in the mountains and as a result of a truce in the area, the rebels handed him over to the Syrian Armed Forces and reportedly received small arms and ammunition from government forces in return. [1] By 23 September, the rebels were in control of 70% of Jabal al-Afa'i. [19]
On 26 September, unknown gunmen attempted to assassinate Harith Siwar, commander of Jaysh al-Islam in the Eastern Qalamoun Mountains. [3] On 29 September, ISIL forces launched a new attack in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, leading to heavy clashes with the rebel defenders. [20] In the night of 1â2 October, ISIL fighters stormed eastern Jabal al-Afa'i amid heavy fighting with FSA forces. [21] Two days later, Jaysh al-Islam repelled another major ISIL attack on Jabal al-Afa'i and al-Naqab. [22] On 9 October, 12 ISIL fighters and an unknown number of rebels were killed in clashes after an attack by ISIL on al-Khandaq and al-Naqab mountain. [23] Five rebels were killed in clashes on the following day. [24] On 15 October, rebels launched an assault on Kahil Tes and Mahol areas. [25]
On 26 October, Syrian military bombarded areas under ISIL control in the region. [26] On 2 November, clashes renewed between ISIL and rebels, concentrated in the area of Jabal al-Afa'i. [27]
On 6 November, the rebels launched their own offensive, [28] [29] attacking ISIL positions. The rebels stated they had captured three checkpoints, with 7 ISIL fighters and 4 rebels being killed in the clashes. [29] With the recent advances, rebels broke the siege imposed by ISIL on them in the region and had started advancing northwards to retake territory previously captured by the group. [28]
On 29 December, FSA forces launched an offensive toward ISIL lines in the eastern Qalamoun and captured five villages. [30]