Al-Tanf offensive (2016)

Al-Tanf offensive (2016)
Part of the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War
Date 3 [1] – 5 March 2016 (2 days) Location Al-Tanf, Homs Governorate, Syria Result FSA victory Rebels capture the Al-Tanf border post and immediate surroundings
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army Supported by: CJTF–OIR United States CIA [2] Jordan	ISIL
Commanders and leaders
Khazal al-Sarhan (New Syrian Army commander)	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Leader of ISIL)
Units involved
Free Syrian Army Authenticity and Development Front Syrian Free Army Southern Front	Military of ISIL
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Al-Tanf offensive was a two-day offensive launched by the Free Syrian Army backed by the U.S.-led Coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), aiming to recapture al-Tanf, Syria. Al-Tanf had been captured by ISIL from the Syrian Government in May 2015 and had been used by ISIL to shift militants and resources across the border. ^[3]

On 3 March 2016, Syrian rebels took the offensive to capture al-Tanf, and after several hours of fighting captured the border post. ^{[4] [5]}

ISIL counter-attacked several hours later, and recapturing the post. ^[6] Fighting continued until the next day, in which the rebels repelled ISIL fighters and recaptured the post. ^[7]

References

1. "New Syrian Army will 'liberate eastern Syria' from IS". The New Arab. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
2. "CIA Funded and SOF Trained: The New Syrian Army Hits the Ground". Sofrep. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
3. "Syrian rebels seize Iraq border crossing from Islamic State: monitor". Reuters. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
4. Konjunktion (10 March 2016). "Wenn im Westen aus IS-Terroristen plötzlich wieder "Rebellen" werden". Neopresse - Unabhängige Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
5. "Syrian rebels seize Iraq border crossing from ISIS". Al Arabiya. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
6. "The "Islamic State" regain control of the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq, hours after losing control of it". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
7. "Syria Rebels take border crossing from IS". Business Insider. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.