Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)

Last updated

Battle of Tell Abyad
Part of the Syrian Civil War and
the American-led intervention in Syria
Rojava Kurdisch kontrollierte Gebiete.jpg
Situation in Northern Syria (June 2015)
Date27 February – 1 March 2016
(3 days) (First phase)
3–8 March 2016
(5 days) (Second phase)
Location
Result

SDF victory

  • The SDF repels the assault
Belligerents

Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg Syrian Democratic Forces

Airstrikes :
Seal of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.svg CJTF–OIR
Islamic State flag.svg Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg Khaled Daham al Bashir  [1]
(Deir Ezzor tribal leader)
De facto SA-NES Flag.svg Laila Mustafa
(Head of City Council) [2]
Islamic State flag.svg Abu Waheeb
Units involved

Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg Syrian Democratic Forces

De facto SA-NES Flag.svg Asayish & Kurdish militia [5]

Military of ISIL

Strength
Unknown 400+ [8]
Casualties and losses

47+ killed [9] (47 YPG/YPJ killed) [10]

300 killed (ISIL claim)
120–291 killed [9] [11] [12] [13]
15–23 civilians killed [9] [10]

The Battle of Tel Abyad was a raid by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on the YPG-held town of Tell Abyad at the end of February 2016, during the Syrian Civil War.

Contents

Background

In July 2015, Tel Abyad, previously held by IS, was captured by YPG militias linking together the Kurdish Kobanî and Jazira Canton. Since then the majority-Arab town has been absorbed into the Kobane Canton.

Battle

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a month before the battle's beginning a large number of ISIL sleeper agents disguised as civilians and SDF or YPG fighters entered Tell Abyad. Most of them were so-called "Caliphate Cubs" or ISIL units of child soldiers. [6] [7]

On 27 February 2016, at around 23:00 local time (9 pm GMT), [4] over a hundred Islamic State militants attacked the YPG controlled town of Tell Abyad (Gire Spi in Kurdish), a key crossing along the Syrian-Turkish border, just hours after a general ceasefire in Syria took effect. According to YPG military spokesperson Redur Xelil, the attack was not to re-take Tal Abyad but to cut the Kurdish Cantons in half and do as much damage possible, reminiscent to the Kobanî massacre. [12]

The battle began when ISIL fighters infiltrated the suburbs of Tel Abyad, storming dozens of homes in the villages of Hamam Turkman and Ain al-Arous, and executing 23 civilians. A YPG spokesman claimed that some of the ISIL attackers had crossed from Turkey to attack the town. Turkey quickly denied this claim. Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko the head of Russia’s reconciliation monitoring center in Latakia, said that the assault on Tal Abyad involved up to 100 armed militants with heavy artillery support from Turkish territory. [14] Other YPG sources claimed that Turkey had supplied ISIL fighters with both modern western equipment and information. [8]

The two pronged offensive was launched against the Kurdish positions in the East of the city, with ISIS using car bombs to attack checkpoints and mortar fire originating in Raqqa. The SDF headquarters in Tel Abyad was targeted and 5 other villages; Sharghrat, Kantari, Nastleh, Ghuwera and Qantrah were attacked. [2] [15] As ISIL overran large parts of the city, they also encircled a YPG headquarters near the Syrian-Turkish borders, where they captured Khaled Daham al Bashir. Khaled, who had fought ISIL with the Free Syrian Army in Deir ez-Zor before, was the cousin of Raghib al Bashir, head of al-Baqara tribe in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. After his capture, he and three other SDF fighters were executed, with images of his beheading being posted by ISIL on his personal Facebook account. [1]

During the battle ISIS fighters captured roughly 70% of the town (according to Turkish military officials) as well as the National Hospital and administrative buildings of Tal Abyad. [4] Kurdish officials stated they were successful in repelling the attack and holding the town with the support of ten U.S Combined Joint Task Force airstrikes, and heavy reinforcements from mostly local Arab fighters from Jaysh al-Thuwar, also part of the "Self-Defense Forces".

The offensive ended on 1 March, when the attack was repelled. According to the YPG, the bodies of 140 ISIS fighters were left behind. [10] This toll was later raised to 291. [12] The SDF gave their death toll as 43, mostly YPG fighters, and 23 civilians killed. [10] The SOHR gave a differing death toll, in which 140 ISIS fighters died attacking the town along with 47 YPG and 15 civilians. [9]

Mehmet Yuksel, a representative of the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party to the United States argued that Ankara hired the attackers from Syrian refugee camps in Turkey.[ citation needed ]

In response to the attack, the SDF launched "Revenge of Êlîn and Cûdî" (named after two Kurdish children in the Tel Abyad attack) on 3 March, the fourth major offensive against ISIL forces to the south [16] that successfully reclaimed, with little resistance, open ISIL territory, hamlets and villages in southeastern Tell Abyad District, northern Deir ez-Zor District and western Al-Hasakah District. The two-pronged operation concluded sometime after SDF forces converged at Muqman in Deir ez-Zor District in 8 March, moving the Kurdish frontline closer towards the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa and the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell Abyad</span> Town in Raqqa, northern Syria

Tell Abyad is a town in northern Syria. It is the administrative center of the Tell Abyad District within the Raqqa Governorate. Located along the Balikh River, it constitutes a divided city with the bordering city of Akçakale in Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syriac Military Council</span> Assyrian military organisation in Syria

The Syriac Military Council is an Assyrian military organisation in Syria, part of the Syrian Democratic Forces. The establishment of the organisation was announced on 8 January 2013. According to the Syriac Military Council, the goal of the organisation is to stand up for the national rights of and to protect Assyrians in Syria. It operates mostly in the densely populated Assyrian areas of Al-Hasakah Governorate, and is affiliated to the Syriac Union Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rojava–Islamist conflict</span> Theater in the Syrian Civil War

The Rojava–Islamist conflict, a major theater in the Syrian civil war, started after fighting erupted between the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and Islamist rebel factions in the city of Ras al-Ayn. Kurdish forces launched a campaign in an attempt to take control of the Islamist-controlled areas in the governorate of al-Hasakah and some parts of Raqqa and Aleppo governorates after al-Qaeda in Syria used those areas to attack the YPG. The Kurdish groups and their allies' goal was also to capture Kurdish areas from the Arab Islamist rebels and strengthen the autonomy of the region of Rojava. The Syrian Democratic Forces would go on to take substantial territory from Islamist groups, in particular the Islamic State (IS), provoking Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa</span> Rebel group in the Syrian Civil War

Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa was a rebel group in the Syrian Civil War. It was formed in September 2012 in the Raqqa Governorate. Aligned with jihadist factions for its first years, at the end of 2015, it joined the Syrian Democratic Forces. During an interview by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi in 2015, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa's media director stated that the group wants a "civil democratic state". He also claimed that the group had no relations with the Syrian National Coalition based in Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retribution Army</span>

The Retribution Army was a Free Syrian Army (FSA)-affiliated group formed by Deir ez-Zor natives that fought in the Syrian Civil War against the government and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern al-Hasakah offensive</span> Military operation

The Eastern al-Hasakah offensive was launched in the Al-Hasakah Governorate during the Syrian Civil War, by the Kurdish-majority People's Protection Units, Assyrian Christian militias, and allied Arab forces against the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, with the intent of retaking the areas of the Jazira Canton that had been captured by ISIL. Subsequently, the Syrian Armed Forces also launched an assault against the jihadists, without coordinating with the YPG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell Abyad offensive</span> May 2015 military operation of the Syrian Civil War

The Tell Abyad offensive or Martyr Rubar Qamışlo operation was a military operation that began in late May 2015 in the northern Raqqa Governorate, during the Syrian Civil War. It was conducted by the Kurdish-majority People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The offensive took place from the end of May until July 2015. The campaign was the second phase of the Kurdish Operation Commander Rûbar Qamishlo, which began with the Al-Hasakah offensive, and involved the merger of the Kobanî offensive with the former. The focus of the campaign was to capture the key border town of Tell Abyad, and to link the Kobanî and Jazira Cantons in Northern Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Democratic Forces</span> Alliance in the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a Kurdish-led self-proclaimed coalition of U.S.-backed ethnic militias and rebel groups, and serves as the official military wing of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The SDF is allied to and supplied by the United States–led CJTF–OIR international alliance. Founded on 10 October 2015, the SDF claims that its mission is fighting to create a secular, democratic and federalized Syria. The SDF is opposed by Turkey, who claims the group has direct links to the PKK, which it recognizes as a terrorist group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Sanadid Forces</span> Militia in Syria

The Forces of the Brave, generally called the al-Sanadid Forces, are a militia formed by the Arab Shammar tribe to fight against the Islamic State. Even though the tribe's Syrian strongholds are mostly in the Jazira Canton of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, such as at al-Yaarubiyah and Tell Hamis, the militia operates throughout most of the AANES. The red colour in their flag represents blood while the yellow represents the light, calling themselves “marchers on the red death”. The al-Sanadid Forces are affiliated with the co-governor/co-president of Jazira Canton and tribal leader Humaydi Daham al-Hadi, and are led by Humaydi's son Bandar al-Humaydi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayn Issa</span> Town in Raqqa, Syria

Ayn Issa is a town in the Tell Abyad District of Raqqa Governorate in Syria. It is located halfway between the Syria–Turkey border town of Tell Abyad and the regional capital Raqqa. Through the city runs the M4 highway connecting Aleppo with the Hasakah Governorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)</span> Battle in 2016, during the Syrian civil war

The al-Shaddadi offensive (2016), also known as Operation Wrath of Khabur, was an offensive launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during the Syrian Civil War, in February 2016. The main goal of this offensive was to capture the strategic city of Al-Shaddadi and the remainder of the southern al-Hasakah Governorate from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). During the offensive, the US-led coalition conducted more than 86 airstrikes in Al-Shaddadi and the nearby areas, in support of the SDF advances.

The Northern Raqqa offensive was a 2016 military offensive launched by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in northern Raqqa Governorate, in order to prepare for a future attack on the city of Raqqa. The offensive was launched in coordination with airstrikes by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. After 30 May, the offensive stalled, as the SDF shifted its focus and resources to another operation in the northern Aleppo Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Democratic Forces military councils</span> Military councils for local security and defense

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has many military councils for local security and defense, each being accountable to the civil council of the area they operate in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)</span> Part of the Rojava–Islamist conflict in Syria

The Raqqa campaign was a military operation launched in November 2016 during the Rojava–Islamist conflict by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Raqqa Governorate, with the goal of isolating and eventually capturing the Islamic State's capital city, Raqqa. The SDF's subsidiary goals included capturing the Tabqa Dam, the nearby city of al-Thawrah, and the Baath Dam further downstream. The campaign ended successfully in October 2017, with the capture of Raqqa.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)</span> Part of the Syrian Civil War (2017–2019)

The Deir ez-Zor campaign, codenamed the al-Jazeera Storm campaign, was a military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria's Deir ez-Zor Governorate in 2017 during the Syrian Civil War with the goal of capturing territory in eastern Syria, particularly east and north of the Euphrates river. The U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) anti-ISIL coalition provided extensive air support while SDF personnel composed the majority of the ground forces; OIR special forces and artillery units were also involved in the campaign.

Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War started after fighting erupted between Syrian opposition groups and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In early January 2014, serious clashes between the groups erupted in the north of the country. Opposition groups near Aleppo attacked ISIL in two areas, Atarib and Anadan, which were both strongholds of the fundamentalist Sunni organization. Despite the conflict between ISIL and other rebels, one faction of ISIL has cooperated with the al-Nusra Front and the Green Battalion to combat Hezbollah in the Battle of Qalamoun. By 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Syria insurgency</span> Armed insurgency

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an armed insurgency being waged by remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and both pro and anti-Syrian government Arab nationalist insurgents, against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), its military, and their allies in the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war for 2021. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian civil war.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war for 2022. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found in Casualties of the Syrian civil war.

References

  1. 1 2 "The death of a Deir Ezzor tribal leader in ISIS attack on Tel Abyad town yesterday". en.deirezzor24.net. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Life returns to Syria's Tel Abyad after western-backed forces repel ISIS offensive – ARA News". ARA News. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 KurdishQuestion.com. "YPG: Islamic State Attacked Gire Spi / Tel Abyad From Turkey And Raqqa". www.kurdishquestion.com. Retrieved 8 March 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 3 "Fierce fighting rages as IS attacks Kurds near Turkish border". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  5. "More than 70 "Islamic state" members killed during YPG's regaining control of Tal Abyad town". SOHR. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "By "Caliphate Cubs and the costume of Self-Defense", "Islamic State" carry out Tal Abyad military operations". SOHR. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 "ROJAVA UPDATE 190: AS "CEASEFIRE" TAKES EFFECT ACROSS SYRIA, ISLAMIC STATE LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK AGAINST THE KURDS". Peter Clifford Online. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Sanitäter bei der YPG in Syrien. Ein Deutscher im Kampf gegen den IS". Tagesschau (in German). Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Death Toll from IS Offensive in Northern Syria Rises to 202, SOHR Says". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "43 Kurdish YPG fighters killed in Syria in battle with Islamic State". Reuters. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  11. "More than 120 "Islamic State" members killed during their failed attack on Tal Abyad area in the countryside of Raqqa". SOHR. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "'Turkey tries to expel Kurds from Tel Abyad crossing to help ISIS export its oil to black market': Kurdish official". ARA News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  13. "'Turkey tries to expel Kurds from Tel Abyad crossing to help ISIS export its oil to black market': Kurdish official – ARA News". Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  14. "Russia Reports Turkish Shelling of Syrian Territory as Cease-fire Takes Hold" . Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  15. "ISIS takes advantage of Syria ceasefire, attacks Kurds north Raqqa – ARA News". ARA News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  16. Rojava Weekly News Briefing – Support Kurds in Syria – SKS

36°41′50″N38°57′18″E / 36.6973°N 38.9551°E / 36.6973; 38.9551