Battle of the Shaer gas field (2016)

For other uses, see Battle of the Shaer gas field.

Battle of the Shaer gas field (2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Shaer gas field
Date 2–30 May 2016 (4 weeks) Location Palmyra region, Homs Governorate, Syria Result Partial ISIL victory[ citation needed ] ISIL captures the Shaer gas field and the Huwaysis area. ISIL blow up Shaer Gas Field afterwards. Syrian Army recaptures the Huwaysis area
Belligerents
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant	Syrian Arab Republic Supported by: Russia
Commanders and leaders
Abu Baraa Al Jazrawi	Unknown
Units involved
Unknown	Unknown Syrian military unit Russian Naval Infantry [1]
Casualties and losses
16 killed (1st day)	34 killed (1st day)

The Battle of the Shaer gas field took place between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Syrian government for the control over the Sha'er gas field during the Syrian Civil War. It is the third attack that was launched by ISIL on the gas field.

Offensive

On 5 May 2016, ISIL once again captured the Shaer gas field that had been held by the Syrian government since the Second Battle of the Shaer gas field. ^[2] 34 soldiers and 16 ISIL fighters were killed during the battle for the field. ^[3]

Four days later, ISIL attacked the nearby al-Mahr oil field, capturing al-Mahr hill, before the military recaptured the hill and repelled the attack on the field the following day. ^[4] The same day, 10 May, ISIL captured an abandoned military base near the T4 airbase, cutting the main supply route to Palmyra. Government troops recaptured the base and reopened the supply road. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Mid-May, there were reports of explosions and a 4.4 Richter magnitude scale earthquake that was believed to be caused by the entire field blowing up. ^{[8] [9]}

On 30 May, government forces recaptured the Huwaysis area. ^{[10] [11]}

Aftermath

In late June, ISIL was once again in control of the Huwaysis area. ^[12]

In early July, some media activists showed the first photos and videos of the preparation of blasting and explosion.

In September, pro-government forces regained control of the Huwaysis area. ^[13] but lost it again in a December offensive before recapturing it yet again in early 2017.

See also

• Battle of the Shaer gas field (July 2014)
• Battle of the Shaer gas field (October–November 2014)

References

1. Russian marines begin military operations in Syria (2016-05-16). "Russian marines begin military operations in Syria". Mirrorspectrum. Archived from the original on 2017-02-13. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
2. "Islamic State militants seize gas field in eastern Syria". 5 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016– via Reuters.
3. (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Fighting calms in Syria's Aleppo amid truce, but hostilities persist elsewhere - News - DW.COM - 05.05.2016". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
4. Tomson, Chris (9 May 2016). "ISIS attacks al-Mahr oil field as Syrian Army regroups for counteroffensive". Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
5. "IS cuts government supply route to Syria's ancient Palmyra" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
6. Adra, Zen (13 May 2016). "Field Report: SAA recaptures strategic point near Tiyas Airbase". Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
7. "The regime forces reopen the supply road between Homs and Palmyra and explosion in the city of Homs" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
8. Spencer, Richard. "Isil 'sets off earthquake by blowing up major gas field' in Syria". Telegraph. Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
9. Aterbury, John. "Investigating the "ISIS earthquake"". Bellingcat. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
10. "Palmyra_May_31" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
11. Editor6. "قوات النظام تتقدم في بادية حمص الشرقية وتستعيد السيطرة على معظم منطقة حويسيس" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
12. "At least 50 Syrian soldiers killed in ISIS-led attacks in Homs". Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
13. "Syrian Army reverses ISIS gains in northeast Homs". Archived from the original on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2016-09-06.

34°33′15″N38°17′00″E / 34.5542°N 38.2833°E / 34.5542; 38.2833