Failed army attack and rebel offensive
On 3 October, 23 soldiers were reportedly killed after a failed attempt to regain control over Deir al-Adas. [1] The next day, rebels announced the start of a military operation called "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher", which aimed to capture al-Harra town and its 1,075 meters high strategic hill and to besiege Army forces in al-Sanamayn and its surrounding barracks. [15] That day, between 18 and 60 rebels were killed. [13] [17]
On 5 October, at least 30 soldiers and 29 rebels were killed at Tell al-Harrah and at its radar base. [12] The rebels captured the hill, [5] Zimrin village and the Oum El-Aaoussaj barrier in al-Harrah town. According to opposition sources, two army tanks were destroyed and one fighter jet was downed, [4] while rebels also managed to capture the Tell al-Ahmar and the security facilitity in the south of al-Harrah town and the al-Jadeera checkpoint east of it. [18] The base on the hill contained Center C, a spy facility run by a Russian special unit. [7]
The next day, rebels captured the village of Zimrin (east of Al-Harrah town), the two strategic hills surrounding it (Western Tell Zimrin and Northern Tell Zimrin), [19] and two checkpoints nearby. [3] That day, 16 rebels (including two commanders) and six members of the same family were killed. [14]
Aftermath
On 10 October, the Syrian Army started bombing al-Harrah town from the air and with ground-to-ground missiles, killing 20 civilians. [2]
On 15 October, the Syrian brigadier-general “Mahmud Abo Arraj”, commander of the Brigade 121 affiliated to the Seventh Division, fled his home in Damascus to the Syrian-Jordanian border after hearing he will be on trial and executed on charge of high treason due to "handing over al-Harrah Hill". He was likely killed in Rif Dimashq, but his body is still missing. [8]
On 17 October, rebels announced the start of a new battle called “Ahlo al-Azem", which aimed to capture the following Army checkpoints: Umm al-Mayazen al Tebeh, Al-Ma’esra checkpoint and Al-Kazeyyat checkpoint. These checkpoints are located along the Damascus-Jordan highway and are considered the biggest of their kind in the eastern area. [20] On 20 October, rebels captured the al-Jeser, al-Falahin gas station and al-Ma'sara checkpoints near Umm al-Mayazan after three days of fighting. Umm al-Mayazan village was captured by the rebels the next day after heavy fighting with pro-government troops, who withdrew from the village and reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels. [21] That same day, at least 8 civilians were killed after the Syrian Arab Air Force bombed the Nasib border town. [22]
On 23 October, rebels captured the Umm al-Mayathen checkpoint near Nasib border crossing. [23]
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Al-Nusra Front 
Hazzm Movement [6] 
9th Division
