2016 Southern Aleppo campaign

2016 Southern Aleppo campaign
Part of the Battle of Aleppo (2012–present) and the Syrian Civil War
Date1 April – 18 June 2016
(2 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)
LocationAleppo Governorate, Syria
Result

Rebel victory

  • The rebels capture Tel Al-Eis, Khan Tuman and seven other villages[1]
Belligerents

Army of Conquest[2]

Jund al-Aqsa[2]
Caucasus Emirate[5]
Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

Shia militias

 Iran

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Liwa al-Quds[10]
 Russia

Commanders and leaders
Abu Abdollah Jabal[11]
(al-Nusra top commander)
Umar al-Daghestani †[12]
(al-Nusra commander)
Seif al-Ansari †[13]
(al-Nusra commander)
Abu Alaa Ta'oum †[14]
(Ahrar ash-Sham commander)
Abu Aisha †[14]
(Jund al-Aqsa top commander)

Brig. Gen. Javad Dourbin  †
(IRGC senior commander)[9]

Brig. Gen. Shafi Shafii  †
(IRGC Quds Force senior commander)[9]
Units involved

Fatah Halab[15]

Syrian Army

IRGC

Iranian Army

Casualties and losses
285 killed[19][20][21][22][23] 255 killed[19][20][21][22][23]

The 2016 Southern Aleppo campaign was a series of military operations that started on 1 April when the Islamist rebel coalition Army of Conquest, led by the al-Nusra Front, launched a surprise[24] offensive south of Aleppo. The main objective of the operation was to recapture territory they had lost during the large-scale government offensive in late 2015.[25][26]

Campaign

First offensive (April 2016)

In the afternoon of 1 April, rebel forces launched the offensive, targeting the strategic village of Tel el-Ais,[27] that overlooks the Damascus–Aleppo highway.[28] The operation started with preparatory shelling[27] hitting the village's southwestern flank.[29] This was followed up by a ground assault that included an attack conducted by three suicide car bombers against government positions.[30] According to one report, the bombers did not reach their targets,[29] while according to another, they managed to clear the way for the rebel infantry.[31] Still, the attack on Tel el-Ais was eventually repelled. However, soon after, the rebels launched a second assault,[32] and early on 2 April, they captured Tel el-Ais.[28] The Al-Nusra Front claimed they ambushed government troops as they were withdrawing from the village.[30]

After securing the village, the rebels proceeded to attack and seize the Jabal Al-'Eiss (Mount Eiss) area, with the Army withdrawing towards Hader.[15] Meanwhile, elsewhere along the frontline, the rebels captured the villages of Abu Ruwayl, Hawbar and Birnah as the offensive started, however they were recaptured by the military by the following morning.[33][34] Among the dead on the government side from the previous two days of fighting were 12 Hezbollah fighters[35] and three IRGC officers.[36]

As of early 3 April, a counter-attack had not yet started as government forces were awaiting the arrival of the final batch of ammunition and vehicles. Later in the day, a rebel source stated 100 government vehicles were seen heading towards the southern countryside of Aleppo.[37] At 10 p.m. that evening,[17] the Army counter-attack started and government forces reportedly captured several points on the eastern and northern perimeter of Tel el-Ais, coming to within a few hundred meters of the village.[38] Still, by the morning, two attacks to breach the village itself had been repelled, although the main assault had not yet taken place as airstrikes continued.[17]

On 5 April, a Syrian Air Force plane was shot down in the area of Tel el-Ais by the Al-Nusra Front,[39] with the pilot captured.[40][41] During the day, members of the Iranian 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade reportedly arrived in Hader.[42] For the first time since February, Russian air-strikes were conducted in the southern Aleppo countryside, in preparation for the Army counter-attack.[43]

Late on 5 April, the Iranian special forces, supported by Syrian Army troops, attacked the village. In the early hours of the next day,[18][44] it was incorrectly claimed they recaptured Tel el-Ais.[45] Still, pro-opposition SOHR confirmed government troops made progress in the area of Tel el-Ais.[44] During the day, the rebels temporarily withdrew from the village due to heavy shelling before returning.[45] Elsewhere, the military captured Zorba, but it was recaptured by the rebels one hour later.[46] The same day, another large Army convoy arrived in the area.[47]

On 9 April, the rebels took control of the village of Khalidiyah, near Khan Tuman,[26][48] as well as two hilltops[49] and large parts of Zaytan, Birnah and al-Qal'ajiyyeh.[50][51] Meanwhile, government forces intensified their shelling of Tel el-Ais and nearby Zorba, with over 100 mortars and rockets being fired at rebel positions, while Russian air-strikes continued.[52]

The next day, the military recaptured Khalidiyah and the rebels withdrew from Zaytan, Birnah and other positions they had taken during the previous 24 hours.[53][54][55] During the rebel assault on Khalidiyah and Khan Tuman, four Iranian commandos were killed, including two members of the 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade.[56]

On 12 April, a new government assault on Tel el-Ais started.[57] Before the attack, 300 rockets were launched at rebel positions in the area.[58] Fighting also took place near Khan Tuman.[57] The Army managed to advance and capture several hills in the area,[59] as well as most of the village itself.[60] However, this latest attack on Tel el-Ais was also eventually repelled,[61] when government forces withdrew from the village after not being able to take Jabal Al-'Eiss hill.[60] The hills that they had also seized earlier in the day were once again under rebel control.[62][63]

Interlude

One week after the end of the offensive, the rebels once again launched a two-pronged attack against Khan Tuman, Zaytan and Birnah. The attack was quickly repelled, with more than 30 rebels reportedly being killed at Khan Tuman and two of their tanks being destroyed.[64]

Second offensive (May 2016)

On 5 May, the United States and Russia agreed on a cessation of hostilities in Aleppo for 48 hours. However, fighting continued in the city and surrounding areas.[65] The same day, the Army of Conquest militants, supported by Jund al-Aqsa and the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria (TIP),[3] advanced and captured the village of Khalidiyah, west of Khan Tuman and southwest of Aleppo.[2][66] The rebels then launched artillery attack on Khan Tuman. During the fighting, the Army destroyed a car bomb with a rocket.[67] Around 7 a.m. on 6 May,[68] the rebels captured Khan Tuman, as well as five other nearby villages.[4][69][70][71] In all, 62 pro-government fighters and 57 rebels were killed in the rebel assault.[72] During the clashes, an air strike hit a heavy concentration of rebels, killing 18 fighters.[14]

Following the capture of Khan Tuman, hundreds of government reinforcements, including Palestinian militiamen, were sent to help recapture the town.[10] Preparations were being made for a counter-attack, with Russian air-strikes reportedly hitting rebel positions in the area.[73] On 7 May, government troops recaptured three villages.[71]

The counter-attack against Khan Tuman started on 8 May,[6] and was reportedly repelled.[74] By 11 May, the fighting in the area of Khan Tuman left 173 fighters dead on both sides and more than 300 wounded. Among those killed on the rebel side were 35 Turkistan Islamic Party members as well as a number of Uzbeks. Among pro-government dead were 55 Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Lebanese.[21]

Overnight between 11 and 12 May, heavy Russian air-strikes hit rebel positions in the area of Khan Tuman.[75][76]

Third offensive (June 2016)

On 3 June, a new surprise rebel offensive was started.[77] al-Nusra suicide bombers detonated car bombs near Khan Tuman, followed by an assault with heavy armour toward pro-government positions. Ahrar al-Sham then seized the village of Maratah, capturing a large amount munitions crates, a T-62, and a fuel depot.[78] The rebels also took over three more villages, an air defence battalion, and a weapons warehouse.[79] By the next day, the rebels had taken control of five villages.[80] The same day, the Sham Legion launched an anti-tank guided missile at a suspected Syrian Army position near the area, killing a Dagestani al-Qaeda commander in a friendly fire incident.[12]

On 14 June, al-Nusra led a fresh jihadist assault in the southern Aleppo countryside, targeting the villages of Khalsah and Zeitain, controlled by a number of pro-government forces. The jihadists initially captured Zeitain, whilst heavy fighting continued in Khalsah.[81]

On 15 June, the National Defence Forces, Hezbollah and allied forces launched a counter-attack and succeeded in recapturing the village of Zeitan, whilst also repelling the jihadist assault on Khalsah. It was reported that over 20 jihadist fighters had been killed, whilst a rebel T-72 tank and 2 BMP's were destroyed.[82][83]

On 16 June, a pro-government counter-attack against Maratah was repelled.[84]

During the night of 17 and 18 June, the jihadist rebels led by al-Nusra imposed full control over the villages of Khalsah, Zeitan and Birnah, despite suffering heavy losses, including the death of a top commander.[13][85][86] Overall, 186 fighters on both sides were killed in the fighting over the previous four days, 100 rebels and 86 pro-government fighters.[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tomson, Chris (18 June 2016). "Tide turns in southern Aleppo as Islamist rebels gain the upper hand - Map update". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Syrian opposition repels regime forces in S. Aleppo". Anadolu Agency. 5 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Jaysh al Fath coalition launches new offensive in Aleppo province". The Long War Journal.
  4. 1 2 "Islamist rebels seize village near Aleppo, 73 killed: monitor". Reuters. 6 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Caucasus Emirate in Syria fighting in Aleppo". The Long War Journal. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Leith Fadel (8 May 2016). "Battle for southern Aleppo is under way as the Syrian Army attack Khan Touman". Al-Masdar News.
  7. ↑ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (23 July 2016). "Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi: A Syrian Hezbollah Formation". Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "13 Members of Iran's Elite Force Killed in Syria". ABC News.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "IRGC, allies sustained significant losses in battle for Khan Touman". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Syrian Army, Liwaa Al-Quds send reinforcements to southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. 6 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Syria: Top Terrorist Commander Killed in Northwestern Aleppo". Farsnews. 22 June 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Friendly fire kills top Nusra commander in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. 5 June 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Al Nusra jihadists capture village of Khalsah". Al Masdar News. 17 June 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 Zen Adra (6 May 2016). "In pictures: Nusra loses top commanders in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  15. 1 2 Leith Fadel (3 April 2016). "Rebels advance in southern Aleppo amid heavy casualties". Al-Masdar News.
  16. ↑ "Oppositions agree on 'big Aleppo operation'". Yeni Safak. 3 April 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 Leith Fadel (4 April 2016). "Hezbollah, Syrian Army storm strategic town in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  18. 1 2 Chris Tomson (6 April 2016). "Strategic town of Al-Eis recaptured during night raid led by Iranian troops – Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Fierce fighting near Aleppo as Syria cease-fire starts to unravel". 2 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Over 100 killed in upsurge in Syria's Aleppo: activists". The Daily Star Newspaper – Lebanon. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 "More than 500 killed or wounded, during... – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – Facebook". Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  22. 1 2 user3. "201 قضوا أمس بينهم 55 من عناصر قوات النظام والمسلحين الموالين لها، و72 استشهدوا وقضوا في قصف جوي وقصف للتحالف الدولي وسقوط قذائف وقصف لقوات النظام وظروف ثانية". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 "IS mounts fierce defence of besieged Syrian bastion". Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Tomson, Chris (9 May 2016). "Khan Touman recapture becomes inevitable due to Syrian Army high ground". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "Fierce fighting kills 35 around Syria's Aleppo: monitor – Breitbart". Breitbart. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  26. 1 2 Chris Tomson (9 April 2016). "Rebels capture al-Khalidyah as tides turn in southern Aleppo – Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  27. 1 2 Leith Fadel (1 April 2016). "Rebels launch important offensive in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  28. 1 2 "Al-Qaida, other insurgents capture Syrian village". Fox News.
  29. 1 2 Leith Fadel (1 April 2016). "Rebels storm strategic village in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  30. 1 2 Reuters Editorial (2 April 2016). "Nusra Front, Syrian rebels attack government forces near Aleppo, gain ground". Reuters.
  31. ↑ "Al Nusrah Front, allies launch offensive south of Aleppo". The Long War Journal.
  32. ↑ Leith Fadel (2 April 2016). "Breaking: Rebels capture strategic town in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  33. ↑ "Thomas van Linge". Twitter.
  34. ↑ "Jason Jones". Twitter.
  35. ↑ ABC News. "After Palmyra, Syrian Troops Take Another IS-Controlled Town". ABC News.
  36. ↑ "Three senior Iranian officers killed in confrontations with Syrian rebels in Aleppo – ARA News". ARA News.
  37. ↑ "Ivan Sidorenko". Twitter.
  38. ↑ Chris Tomson (4 April 2016). "Syrian Army begins counter-offensive in southern Aleppo as Russia pounds al-Eis". Al-Masdar News.
  39. ↑ Kareem Shaheen. "Syrian jet downed near Aleppo as fighting picks up across country". the Guardian.
  40. ↑ Paul Antonopoulos (5 April 2016). "Al-Nusra downs aircraft , captures pilot in Aleppo (Video)". Al-Masdar News.
  41. ↑ Sam Dagher (5 April 2016). "Islamist Rebels Shoot Down Syrian Warplane". WSJ. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  42. ↑ Leith Fadel (5 April 2016). "Iranian Special Forces arrive in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  43. ↑ Leith Fadel (5 April 2016). "Breaking: Russian fighter jets pound southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  44. 1 2 Tom Perry (6 April 2016). "Syrian army and allies launch attack south of Aleppo". Reuters. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  45. 1 2 Leith Fadel (6 April 2016). "Current battlefield update from southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  46. ↑
  47. ↑ Leith Fadel (6 April 2016). "Massive Syrian Army convoy arrives in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  48. ↑ suliman. "هجوم عنيف وتقدم للفصائل وجبهة النصرة في محيط خان طومان واشتباكات في محيط الشيخ مقصود". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  49. ↑ Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Rebels and Syrian government forces battle in fierce clashes near Aleppo – monitor". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "Jabhat Al-Nusra and factions advance in several fronts at the expense of the regime forces in the southern countryside of Aleppo and about 40 airstrike target the area". SOHR. 10 April 2016.
  51. ↑ "Syrian Cease-fire Fraying; Aleppo in Regime Sights". VOA. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  52. ↑ Leith Fadel (9 April 2016). "Syrian Army, IRGC intensify attack in southern Aleppo amid the coming offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  53. ↑ Leith Fadel (10 April 2016). "Rebel offensive in southern Aleppo fails as the Syrian Army, Hezbollah recapture Al-Khalidiyah". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  54. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  55. ↑ khaled. "معارك متواصلة وقوات النظام تنفذ هجوماً معاكساً بريف حلب الجنوبي وتتقدم في عدة محاور". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  56. ↑ "Tasnim News Agency – Funeral Held for 4 Iranian Commandos Killed in Syria". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  57. 1 2 ABC News. "Syria Pushes Offensive on Eve of Elections, Talks in Geneva". ABC News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  58. ↑ Paul Antonopoulos (12 April 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah storm Al-Eis in South Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  59. ↑ khaled. "استمرار الاشتباكات بشكل عنيف في منقطتي خان طومان والعيس وقوات النظام تواصل قصفها المكثف للمنطقة". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  60. 1 2 Chris Tomson (12 April 2016). "Hezbollah assault on Al-Eis in southern Aleppo repelled by Jabhat al-Nusra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  61. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  62. ↑ khaled. "معارك مستمرة بعنف تزامناً مع ضربات مكثفة على منطقة العيس بريف حلب الجنوبي وقصف يستهدف مارع". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  63. ↑ khaled. "الفصائل الإسلامية والمقاتلة تعاود التقدم بريف حلب الشمالي ومعارك مستمرة بالريف الجنوبي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  64. ↑ Tomson, Chris (19 April 2016). "Rebel offensive in southern Aleppo turns disastrous due to Syrian Army intel".
  65. ↑ "U.S., Russia agree to extend truce to Aleppo". Reuters. 5 May 2016.
  66. ↑ Leith Fadel (6 May 2016). "Jihadist rebels capture Khan Touman, Al-Khalidiyah in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  67. ↑ "Jihadist groups unleash offensive south of Syria's Aleppo". Business Standard. 6 May 2016.
  68. ↑ "Activists: Insurgents seize village south of Aleppo". The Big Story. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  69. ↑ khaled. "أكثر من 73 قضوا وقتلوا خلال سيطرة جند الأقصى النصرة والفصائل على بلدة خان طومان وقرى قربها جنوب حلب". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  70. ↑ "Qasion News Agency – Nusra front seize over Maarta village and Khantouman town". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  71. 1 2 Leith Fadel (7 May 2016). "Hezbollah, Syrian Army recapture 2 villages in southern Aleppo (video)". Al-Masdar News.

  72. ↑ "Rose to 119 the number of fighters who... – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – Facebook".
  73. ↑ Leith Fadel (6 May 2016). "Russian Air Force strikes the jihadist rebels at Khan Touman". Al-Masdar News.
  74. ↑ "Qasion News Agency – Al-fateh army defeat attack by regime forces on Khan Toman". Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  75. ↑ News Desk (12 May 2016). "Russian fighter jets pound southern Aleppo overnight". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  76. ↑ Chris Tomson (12 May 2016). "Khan Touman on fire due to Russian airstrikes and artillery shelling". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  77. ↑ Tomson, Chris (3 June 2016). "Government frontline collapses in southern Aleppo after blitz offensive by rebels". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  78. ↑ "Al Nusrah Front and allies launch new offensive in Syria's Aleppo province". Long War Journal. 4 June 2016.
  79. ↑ "Major regime offensive looms over Aleppo". Al-Monitor. 6 June 2016.
  80. ↑ Tomson, Chris (4 June 2016). "Drone footage reveals massive Jabhat al-Nusra offensive in southern Aleppo". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  81. ↑ "Al Nusra capture Zeitain in South Aleppo". Al Masdar News. 14 June 2016.
  82. ↑ "Pro government forces repel jihadist assault in southern Aleppo". Al Masdar News. 15 June 2016.
  83. ↑ "Hezbollah return to Southern Aleppo to help repel jihadist assault". Al Masdar News. 15 June 2016.
  84. ↑ "12 Syrian and non-Syrian militants loyal to the regime killed during a counter attack on Maratah in the countryside of Aleppo". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  85. ↑ "Al Nusra led jihadists capture Zeitan". Al Masdar News. 17 June 2016.
  86. ↑ "Jihadists capture three villages in South Aleppo". Al Masdar News. 18 June 2016.
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