2017 Jobar offensive

Last updated

2017 Jobar offensive
Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian Civil War
Date20 June – 14 August 2017
(1 month, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Result Offensive stalled; Syrian Army advance on Jobar repelled by rebels.
Belligerents
Flag of Syria.svg  Syrian Arab Republic Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg Al-Rahman Legion [1] [2]
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg Captain Abdul Nasr Shamir
(al-Rahman Legion commander-in-chief) [3]
Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg Abu Saeed al-Basha
(al-Rahman Legion commander)  [4]
Units involved

Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg Syrian Army

Ministry of Interior

Flag of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg Syrian Air Force
Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg Al-Rahman Legion
Casualties and losses
Unknown 400 killed (per SAA) [7]
50 civilians killed [8]

The 2017 Jobar offensive was a military operation launched by the Syrian Arab Army and allies against rebel positions in the eastern outskirts of Damascus city, mainly the neighbourhood of Jobar and Ayn Tarma. [9]

Contents

Background

Jobar has remained the last major stronghold of rebels in east Damascus city since the SAA restored full control over the Qaboun and Barzeh districts earlier in May 2017.

From 14 to 18 June 2017, the Syrian Arab Air Force launched dozens of air and artillery strikes in Jobar to prepare for the offensive. [2] [10]

The offensive

On 20 June, Syrian government forces launched a major military operation in the Jobar suburb in eastern Damascus, in a bid to capture this long-standing rebel stronghold. Prior to the ground attack, the Russian Air Force along with the Syrian Arab Air Force targeted rebel positions in Jobar, Ayn Tarma and Zamalka with heavy bombardment that was ongoing since pre-dawn hours. [11] On 21 June, the military reportedly made advances in both Jobar and the Ain Terma area. [12] [13] The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported local activist claims of a chemical attack on northern Jobar on 22 June. [14]

On 24 June, the Syrian Army captured the Ayn Tarma valley from the al-Rahman Legion, in addition to the southern parts of Ayn Tarma town. [15] [16] A rebel counter-attack was repelled on 26 June. [17] On 28 June, Syrian Army advanced inside Ayn Tarma, securing areas near Sunbul Fuel Station and Ayn Tarma Garage, while in Jobar they captured some points in Taybah district near the Great Mosque. [18]

On 29 June, the Syrian Army was in control of almost all buildings near the Sunbul Fuel Station and also captured the Ayn Tarma Junction, imperiling the main rebel supply route to Jobar. [19] On 2 July, the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard captured around 15 building blocks east of the M5 highway, and later captured most of Ayn Tarma's southern quarters. The al-Rahman Legion and the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported said that Ayn Tarma came under a chlorine gas attack; [20] [21] the Syrian Army stated that this was just vindication the rebel group was using to justify its recent losses. [22] [23] [24]

On 5 July, Syrian Army operations resumed on Jobar and Ayn Tarma with the Army capturing a number of points in the Taybah area of the former and most of Ayn Tarma Triangle was captured in the latter. Concurrently, Jaysh al-Islam took advantage of the situation storming the towns of Beit Sawa and Al-Ashari. [25] [26] [27] Four days later, the Army reached the center of Ayn Tarma Triangle and began pushing northwards. [28] Government airstrikes continued through mid-July on Ayn Tarma, Hazzah and Zamalka as part of the offensive on Jobar, with many casualties. [29]

On 22 July, a ceasefire was brokered in East Ghouta by Egypt, Russia, Jaysh al-Islam, and Syria's Tomorrow Movement. However, the Rahman Legion and Tahrir al-Sham were excluded from the ceasefire. [30] The next day, Ayn Tarma, as well as Harasta, Arbeen and Douma, were hit by several airstrikes. [31] [32] More clashes between the Rahman Legion and the Syrian Army erupted overnight between 25 and 26 July. [33]

On 8 August, fighting intensified in Ayn Tarma and other districts in eastern Damascus. The Rahman Legion targeted several Syrian Army vehicles at the front. By 9 August, dozens of artillery and air strikes hit rebel positions in the district. [30]

It was reported on 12 August that the SAA made advances at the al-Manasher Roundabout and the Arab Neighborhood of Jobar. [34] However, the next day, a rebel tunnel bomb blast killed between 16 and 20 soldiers in the Jobar district. [35] Still, the Syrian Army made further progress on 14 August, as they pushed further southwards from al-Manasher Roundabout, capturing several building blocks east of Jobar Sports Hall. [36]

Aftermath – Continued fighting

Syrian government forces continued to bomb towns and villages in Eastern Ghouta in Rif Dimashq throughout late August and early September, along with ground operations around Jobar and Ayn Tarma, directed at ceasefire signatory al-Rahman Legion and other rebel groups. [37]

On 25 September 2017, the Syrian Army, led by the Republican Guard and the 4th Armoured Division, reported it had broken through rebel frontlines along the Jobar-Ayn Tarma axis, resulting in the capture of 30 building blocks, some of which government sources said were demolished by the rebels to thwart further army gains. [38] SOHR reported heavy shelling of built-up areas in Jobar on 26 September. [39] Rahman Legion fighters were killed and injured after a pre-planned artillery strike hit them as they were maneuvering across an open road near the frontline in Ayn Tarma on 27 September. [40] The next day, a tunnel complex was detonated by the Rahman Legion, resulting in massive devastation across the entire western part of Ayn Tarma and the deaths of 45 Syrian Army soldiers with dozens more injured. [41] [42] Afterwards there was a de-escalation of the fighting until 15 October, when rebel fighters shelled the Old City of Damascus, killing four and injuring nine people. The Syrian Air Force responded with airstrikes on Misraba, Saqba and Ayn Tarma. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Rif Dimashq offensive was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, that was launched in late August 2014, as part of the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Rahman Legion</span>

The Al-Rahman Legion, also known as the Al-Rahman Corps, is a Syrian rebel group that operated in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus, and in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains. It was the main rebel group in Jobar, and was backed by Qatar. The group's leader is Abdul al-Nasr Shamir, a former Syrian Army officer from rural Homs who defected from the Syrian Army in early 2012. The Legion has been described as an "Islamist" or as a non-Salafi "political Islamist" organisation. It describes itself as "a revolutionary military entity aiming for the downfall of the Syrian regime, seeking to create an Islamic state". In 2016, it was described as "one of the oldest standing opposition factions in Damascus and maintains high levels of local legitimacy and support." Under a surrender agreement, over 5,000 of its fighters and associated civilians left Damascus for northwestern Syria in March 2018.

The East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict was an armed conflict between the rebel coalition of Jaish al-Fustat, consisting of the al-Nusra Front and al-Rahman Legion, and the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, that occurred in the rebel-held territories east of Damascus. Tensions between the two groups took place since March 2016, when the Rahman Legion expelled Jaysh al-Islam in Zamalka after absorbing the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union in February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)</span> 2018 military offensive

The Rif Dimashq offensive , code-named Operation Damascus Steel, was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in February 2018 in a bid to capture the rebel-held eastern Ghouta suburb during the Syrian Civil War. East Ghouta, a pocket of towns and farms, had been under government siege since 2013 and had been a major rebel stronghold in the vicinity of the capital of Damascus. According to the United Nations, nearly 400,000 people live in East Ghouta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016)</span> Syrian Army offensive

The Rif Dimashq offensive is a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate that was launched in late June 2016, as part of the Syrian Civil War. The offensive resulted in the military's capture of parts of the eastern section of the rebel-held eastern Ghouta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khan al-Shih offensive (October–November 2016)</span> Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate

The Khan al-Shih offensive was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate that was launched in early October 2016, as part of the Syrian Civil War. Its aim was to take control of the rebel-held part of western Ghouta. The main rebel stronghold in the region was the town of Khan al-Shih.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qaboun offensive (2017)</span> Military operation

The Qaboun offensive (2017) was a military operation of the Syrian Arab Army in the suburbs of Damascus against rebel forces during the Syrian Civil War. Its intended goal was to capture the Damascus suburbs of Qaboun and Barzeh from rebels led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict was an armed conflict between the rebel groups Tahrir al-Sham and al-Rahman Legion on one side, and the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam on the other, which took place in the rebel-held territories east of Damascus. Open conflict between the groups also took place exactly one year earlier, before a ceasefire was implemented.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from May to August 2017. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)</span> Military operation of the Syrian Army

The Syrian Desert campaign was a large-scale military operation of the Syrian Army that initially started along the highway from Damascus to the border with Iraq against rebel forces during the Syrian civil war. Its first intended goal was to capture both the highway and the al-Tanf border crossing, thus securing the Damascus countryside from a potential rebel attack. Later, multiple other fronts were opened as part of the operation throughout the desert, as well as operation "Grand Dawn" against ISIL with the aim of reopening the Damascus-Palmyra highway and preparing for an offensive towards Deir ez-Zor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maskanah Plains offensive</span> Offensive

The Maskanah Plains offensive was an operation by the Syrian Army against the remaining Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) strongholds in the eastern countryside of the Aleppo Province, with the goal of recapturing the Maskanah Plains from ISIL and advancing into the Raqqa Governorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Southern Raqqa offensive</span> Offensive

The 2017 Southern Raqqa offensive was an operation by the Syrian Army against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the southwestern countryside of the Raqqa Province.

The Quneitra offensive , code-named "Road to Damascus", was a military operation launched by rebel forces against the Syrian Arab Army at the town of Madinat al-Baath, in the Quneitra Governorate, during the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Syria campaign</span> Military operation of the Syrian Army

The Central Syria campaign, known as "Operation Khuzam", or "Lavender", was a large-scale military operation of the Syrian Army (SAA) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) during the Syrian Civil War. Its goal was to capture the strategic oil town of Al-Sukhnah, and besiege and capture 11,000 square kilometers of ISIL territory in central Syria, after which the Syrian Army would advance towards Deir ez-Zor, and lift the three-year ISIL siege of the government's enclave in the city. Afterwards, the Syrian Army advanced towards the Islamic State's then-capital of Mayadin.

The 2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army against members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor. The Euphrates Crossing offensive, conducted by government troops, was done with the aim of denying US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the US itself leverage over the Syrian government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beit Jinn offensive</span> Military operation

The Beit Jinn offensive was a military operation by the Syrian Arab Army against opposition groups in the Western Ghouta area, starting on 28 November 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)</span> Major phase of the Syrian civil war

The northwestern Syria campaign was a large-scale military operation that initially started with an offensive conducted by ISIL forces on areas controlled by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the northern Hama Governorate. Subsequently, the Syrian Armed Forces launched their own offensive against HTS and other rebel groups in the area. The campaign took place at the intersection of the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.

The Battle of Harasta, codenamed "They Were Wronged", was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels against positions of the Syrian Arab Army in Harasta, a northeastern suburb of Damascus, during the Syrian Civil War

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Damascus offensive (January–February 2018)</span>

The Southern Damascus offensive began on 5 January 2018 as Jaysh al-Islam fighters attempted to infiltrate ISIL positions within the orchards situated in-between Yalda and Hajjar As-Aswad to the immediate south of Damascus city. This resulted in numerous casualties and as such, a week later, on 12 January ISIL shock troops launched a counter-assault on Yalda's Zein neighborhood, triggering heavy clashes, resulting in the eventual capture of several buildings in the area. On 22 January, ISIL made further progress in Taqdam Neighborhood of Hajjar al-Aswad, to this date ISIL ended up controlling 3/4 of Yarmouk Camp, majority of Hajjar al-Aswad, Qadam, Tadamon and large part of Yalda's eastern axis. Fighting continued with ISIL forces continuing their advance against other militant groups later into January, with majority of a street between Yalda and Babbila as well as some gains within the district of Tadamon. By 27 January, ISIL controlled almost the entirety of Hajjar al-Aswad after breaking through the last lines of defense and were on the verge of entering the town of Yalda, during the same time, further areas were also captured in the Yarmouk district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Eastern Ghouta</span> 2013–2018 Syrian siege east of Damascus

The siege of Eastern Ghouta was a siege that was laid by Syrian Government forces in April 2013, to the area in eastern Ghouta held by anti-government forces since November 2012, during the Syrian civil war. The cities and villages under siege were Douma, Mesraba, Arbin, Hamouria, Saqba, Modira, Eftreis, Jisrin, as well as suburbs of Damascus Beit Sawa, Harasta, Zamalka, Ein Tarma, Hizzah and Kafr Batna. By 2016, around 400,000 people were trapped in an area just over 100 square kilometres in size, thus with a population density around 4,000 inhabitants/km2.

References

  1. "VIDEO: Syrian, Russian jets pummel east Damascus suburbs as troops advance". 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Regime bombards Damascus district in attempt to pry eastern neighborhood from rebel forces". Syria Direct . 18 June 2017.
  3. "In pictures: Islamist rebels assemble all available firepower to stop SAA offensive in east Damascus". 30 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  4. "Syrian Army annihilates Islamist leadership in east Damascus during early stage of Jobar offensive". 24 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Syrian Army captures large tunnel, neighborhood in east Damascus town". 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. "In pictures: Syrian Army throws another Republican Guard brigade into battle for Damascus". 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  7. "400 rebels killed by the Syrian Army during east Damascus offensive". Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  8. "The Free Syrian Army condemns the attack on its headquarters in the eastern Ghouta". Al-Quds al-Arabi. 8 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Rebels violate ceasefire: Damascus residential area shelled". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  10. Aid Convoy to Besieged Area Comes Under Fire in Syria, VOA, 18 June 2017
  11. "Syrian regime forces launch assault on Jobar, dozens of casualties". Iraqi News. 21 June 2017.
  12. "Syrian army advances on Damascus outskirts, says Hezbollah-run outlet". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  13. "Syrian Army captures large tunnel, neighborhood in east Damascus town". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  14. The Syrian Regime Has Used Chemical Weapons Five Times after Khan Sheikhoun Incident, SN4HR, 14 August 2017
  15. Leith Fadel (24 June 2017). "Syrian Army captures strategic Ayn Tarma Valley in east Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  16. "Missiles shelling targets Ein Tarma and accompany the violent clashes in the vicinity of the town". SOHR. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  17. "Syrian Army rebuffs jihadist-led militant counterattack in East Ghouta". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  18. "Syrian Army secures major advance in jihadist stronghold". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  19. "Breaking: Syrian Army makes a major advance in east Damascus". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  20. Alexandra Wilts (2 July 2017). "Syrian army 'deploys chlorine gas against rebels east of Damascus' despite US warning" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  21. The Syrian Regime Has Used Chemical Weapons Five Times after Khan Sheikhoun Incident, SN4HR, 14 August 2017
  22. "In pictures: Syrian Army on the roll in east Damascus despite fabrications of chemical attack". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  23. "Syria: SAA breaks through Ayn Tarma defensive line". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  24. "Syrian military rejects 'baseless' allegations of chemical weapons use". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  25. "Syrian Army overruns jihadist forces to score new gains in east Damascus". Al-Masdar News. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  26. "Syrian Army advances in key suburbs of east Damascus: video". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  27. "Militants attack one another in East Ghouta as the Syrian Army advances in Jobar". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  28. "Islamist rebels suffer more setbacks in east Damascus as Syrian Army advances". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 9 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  29. Increased airstrikes in east Damascus towns amid battle for rebel-held district, Syria Direct, 17 July 2017
  30. 1 2 "East Ghouta ceasefire flags as rebels launch attack, prompting regime retribution". Syria Direct . 8 August 2017.
  31. Bassam Khabieh (23 July 2017). "Syrian warplanes strike near Damascus despite ceasefire: Syrian Observatory". Reuters.
  32. Despite cease-fire, shelling continues in Eastern Ghouta Archived 29 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Al-Monitor, 7 August 2017
  33. "Clashes rock Syria truce zone: monitor". AFP. 26 July 2017.
  34. "Syrian Army captures strategic part of Jobar after six years of war". Al-Masdar News. 12 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  35. The Latest: Rebels fighting for Damascus suburbs kill 20, Washington Post
  36. "Islamist rebels suffer more setbacks in Jobar as elite SAA troops capture several sites". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  37. Tamer Osman Russian-backed cease-fire fails to stop shelling in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, Al-Monitor, 20 September 2017
  38. "VIDEO: Syrian Army achieves huge breakthrough in east Damascus". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  39. Regime forces shell Jobar and target the Eastern Ghouta with renewed clashes east of the capital Damascus, SOHR, 26 September 2017
  40. "Syrian Army snags a dozen militants in brutal ambush attack: East Damascus". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  41. "Bloody Thursday for Syrian Army in rural Damascus: 45 soldiers killed [Photos + Video]". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  42. "FSA Faylaq Al-Rahman detonating whole W. front of Ain Terma, killing 10s of government fighters. Drone view included - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.

Further reading