Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016)

Last updated

Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Date2–22 June 2016
(2 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Southwestern Raqqa Governorate, Syria
Result

ISIL victory

  • The Syrian Army withdraws from all positions it had taken in western Raqqa
Belligerents

Flag of Syria.svg Syrian Arab Republic

Flag of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.svg SSNP [1]
Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg Ba'ath Brigades [2]
Flag of Palestine.svg Quwat al-Jalil [1]
Flag of the Arab National Guard.svg Arab Nationalist Guard [3]
Flag of Russia.svg Russia

Contents

 Islamic State flag.svg Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Syrian Armed Forces Flag.svg Major General Hassan Saado  † [5]
(10th Mechanised Division chief-of-staff)		 Islamic State flag.svg Ahmad Kafrouma  † [6]
(Emir of Al-Tabqa Airbase)
Units involved

Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg Syrian Army:

InfoboxNDF.png National Defence Forces:

Military Intelligence Directorate

Syrian Air Force Flag.svg Syrian Air Force
Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg Russian Armed Forces

Military of ISIL
Strength
4,800–5,000 soldiers [11] Unknown
Casualties and losses
39–93 killed [12] [13] [14] 126 killed [14]
10 civilians killed [15]

The Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016) was a military operation launched in June 2016 by the Syrian Army with the stated goal of recapturing Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [16] The battle resulted in an Islamic State victory, after a series of counterattacks caused the Syrian Army to withdraw from the positions it had retaken in western Raqqa Governorate.

Background

The offensive took place soon after two US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces offensives were launched. One was in Northern Raqqa with the goal of recapturing the northern Raqqa countryside, in preparation for a future offensive on the city. The second was launched towards the city of Manbij.

The offensive

First week

On 2 June, Syrian government forces began the offensive at a distance of 120 kilometers from Raqqa.[ citation needed ] They quickly advanced 20 kilometers [17] and captured the Abu al-Zein mountains and the al-Masbah area, [18] (less than 100 kilometers from Raqqa). [19] [ better source needed ]

The next day, government troops captured the Zakiyah crossroad on the Hama-Raqqa provincial border, bringing them to within 47 kilometers from the ISIL-controlled Tabqa Air base. Advances were hampered by ISIL's roadside bombs. [1] Between 3 and 4 June, the Syrian Army returned to the Raqqa Governorate for the first time since 2014, and captured the first village inside the province (Abu Allaj), 35–40 kilometers from Tabqa. [20] [21]

The offensive was temporarily halted on 4 June due to a sandstorm, but continued several hours later. [22] During this time, an ISIL counter-attack recaptured Abu Allaj village. [23] The next day, the Syrian Army seized Tal SyriaTel hill, ISIL's last line of defense before the village, [24] and soon after Abu Allaj was recaptured. [23] Later that evening, the Syrian Army seized another village. [25]

By 6 June, the military had advanced to within 24 kilometers of Tabqa Dam and Lake Assad, [26] captured two more villages 30 kilometers from the air base, [27] [28] and was fighting at the al-Rasafeh crossroad and Raqqa international highway's police station. [29] Meanwhile, ISIL launched a counter-attack at Ithriyah, with the SOHR reporting that the jihadists had cut the road between Salamiyah and Ithriyah, while Al-Manar stated the attack had been repelled. [30]

On 7 June, the Syrian military was fighting 25 kilometers south of Tabqa in the al-Rasafeh area. [31]

Second week

The Syrian Army reached the al-Rasafeh crossroad on June 8, [32] and took control of the area two days later, with government forces being 15–20 kilometers from Tabqa. During the advance the military also seized the nearby oil fields. [33] [34] [35] Throughout the day, tens of Russian and Syrian air-strikes hit ISIL positions at Tabqa. [36]

On 11 June, five ISIL teenage suicide bombers attacked Army positions at the al-Rasafeh crossroad. Four bombers managed to blow themselves up, killing 8–16 soldiers, while the fifth, who was a 13-year-old boy, was captured. [37] [38] Meanwhile, the military was reportedly just several kilometers from the air base and waiting for reinforcements before attacking the base. [38] On 12 June, the Army advanced within six kilometers west of the al-Rasafeh district, south of Raqqa. [39]

Shortly after midnight on 13 June, an ISIL assault, including a suicide truck-bomber, was launched against Abu Allaj. The attack was eventually repelled. [40]

Third week

After being stalled 15 kilometers from the air base for more than one week, [41] the offensive was restarted on 19 June, [42] and the Army quickly advanced to within seven kilometers of the base. [41] During the advance, they captured the nearby Thawra oil field. [43] However, later that day, an ISIL attack involving three suicide car-bombers pushed back the military and recaptured the oil field. [44] 12 hours later, the next day, the Army launched a new assault towards the Thawrah oil field [45] and managed, once again, to advance to less than seven or eight kilometers from the air base after taking back Thawrah. [46] [47] However, a new ISIL counter-attack later in the day recaptured both the Thawrah and Sfaiyeh oil fields, [48] as well as the al-Rasafeh crossroad, pushing back the Army to the border of Raqqa province, 40 kilometers from the air base. [14] [49] In the evening, ISIL recaptured the village of Khirbat Zeidan, coming within striking distance of the Army’s positions at Albu Allaj. [50]

The Syrian Army withdrew from Albu Allaj and the Rasafeh crossroad on 20 June. In course of the withdrawal, ISIL overran positions of Syrian Army and the government forces suffered heavy casualties, with 29 confirmed killed, 49 wounded and dozens missing-in-action, likely killed or captured. [13] Among those killed was Major General Hassan Saado, who was the chief-of-staff of the 10th Mechanized Division. [5] On 22 June, they withdrew from their final points in western Raqqa including Zakiyah crossroad and SyriaTel Hill, bringing the offensive to an end. [51]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Eastern Syria offensive</span> Offensive front launched by ISIL against Syrian military installations

The 2014 Eastern Syria offensive was an offensive launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant against government-held military installations in eastern Syria during the Syrian Civil War, after expelling the Syrian rebels from the region. The offensive is considered to be the largest military attack against the Syrian government launched by ISIL since its establishment. It is also considered to be a reaction to Syrian Army military operations against ISIL positions in eastern Syria.

The Battle of Tabqa Airbase refers to a series of clashes between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Syrian Arab Army in August 2014, during the Syrian Civil War. Tabqa was the last bastion for Syrian military forces in Raqqa province, which at the end of the battle came fully under the control of the ISIL.

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 second attack that was launched by ISIL on the gas field.

The Palmyra offensive of July–August 2015 was a military operation launched during the Syrian Civil War by the Syrian Arab Army in July 2015, in an attempt to recapture the ISIL-held city of Tadmur, known in English as Palmyra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015)</span> Operation that started on 16 October 2015

The Aleppo offensive was a Syrian Army large-scale strategic offensive south of Aleppo. The main objective of the operation was to secure the Azzan Mountains, while also creating a larger buffer zone around the only highway to the provincial capital controlled by the Syrian government. A related objective was to establish favourable conditions for a planned offensive to isolate rebel forces in Aleppo City and to relieve the long-standing siege of a pro-government enclave in Aleppo Governorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuweires offensive</span> Offensive Military Operation

On 14 September 2015, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) – in cooperation with the National Defence Forces (NDF) and the Al-Ba'ath Battalion – launched a fresh offensive inside the Aleppo Governorate's southeastern countryside in order to lift the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham's (ISIS) two-year-long siege of the isolated Kuweires Military Airbase. This offensive was later complemented by another effort starting mid-October further south, which would be aimed at cementing government control over the main logistical route to Aleppo from central Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homs offensive (November–December 2015)</span> Part of the Syrian Civil War

The Homs offensive from November to December 2015 was launched by Syrian government forces during the Syrian Civil War in November 2015. The objective of the operation was to recapture territory lost to ISIL, in the eastern part of the Homs Governorate, during the fall of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016)</span> Military operation

Following the Syrian Arab Army's successful Kuweires offensive, during the Syrian Civil War, which ended with the securing of the Kuweires Military Airbase on 16 November 2015, the Syrian Army launched a new offensive in the eastern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate, with the aim of expanding the buffer zone around the airbase and disrupting ISIL supply lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (February–March 2016)</span> Military operation conducted by the Syrian Arab Army against ISIL

The Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive was a military operation conducted by the Syrian Arab Army against ISIL, during the Syrian Civil War, with the aim of reaching the ISIL-held Al-Tabqa Military Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Khanasir offensive</span> Military operation

The 2016 Khanasir offensive was a military operation conducted by ISIL and Jund al-Aqsa, during the Syrian Civil War, with the aim of cutting the Syrian government's only supply route to the northern part of the Aleppo Governorate, which runs through the town of Khanasir.

The Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2016) was a military operation launched by Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, to recapture the town of Al-Qaryatayn from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The town lies in a junction that connects the Iraqi border with Palmyra and from Palmyra through to Damascus; it fell to ISIL during the previous Battle of Al-Qaryatayn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)</span> 2016–17 military operation 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmyra offensive (December 2016)</span> 2016 military operation of the Syrian Civil War

The Palmyra offensive in December 2016 was a military operation launched by the military of ISIL which led to the re-capture of the ancient city of Palmyra, and an unsuccessful ISIL attack on the Tiyas T-4 Airbase to the west of the city. ISIL previously controlled the city from May 2015 until March 2016.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmyra offensive (2017)</span> 2017 military operation of the Syrian Civil War

The Palmyra offensive in 2017 was launched by the Syrian Arab Army against the armed forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Eastern Homs Governorate in January 2017, with the goal of recapturing Palmyra and its surrounding countryside. ISIL forces had retaken the city of Palmyra in a sudden offensive from 8 to 11 December, after previously being expelled from it by Syrian government and Russian forces in March 2016. On 2 March 2017, the Syrian Army alongside Russian reinforcement, succeeded again in recapturing the beleaguered city of Palmyra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Homs offensive (2017)</span> Offensive

The Eastern Homs offensive in 2017 was a military operation of the Syrian Arab Army and its allies in Eastern part of Homs Governorate against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces during the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Tabqa</span> 2017 battle of the Syrian civil war

The Battle of Tabqa was a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to capture and secure the Tabqa Dam, al-Thawrah (al-Tabqah), Tabqa Airbase, and the surrounding countryside during the 2016–2017 Raqqa campaign of the larger Rojava-Islamist conflict of the Syrian civil war. The SDF assault began on 22 March 2017, and resulted in the capture of Tabqa and the Tabqa Dam on 10 May 2017. The SDF was supported by the United States-led CJTF–OIR coalition during the battle.

<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.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leith Fadel (3 June 2016). "Syrian Army enters Raqqa after liberating the Zakiyah Crossroad, 47 km to Tabaqa: map". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Syrian Army joins the race to Raqqa as several thousand soldiers pour into east Hama". Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 Leith Fadel (6 June 2016). "Another ISIS village captured as the Syrian Arab Army marches towards Raqqa". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Hassan Ridha on Twitter". twitter.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "High-ranking Syria army officer killed fighting ISIS". Now. 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Syrian Air Force kills top ISIS emir in west Raqqa". Al-Masdar News. 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Fadel, Leith (31 May 2016). "Desert Hawks head to west Raqqa". almasdarnews.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Hassan Ridha on Twitter". twitter.com.
  9. 1 2 Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 September 2016). "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Leith Fadel (8 June 2016). "Syrian Army reaches key crossroad in Raqqa". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Syrian Army joins the race to Raqqa as several thousand soldiers pour into east Hama". Al-Masdar News. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Tomson, Chris (16 June 2016). "ISIS launches major counter-offensive against the Syrian Army in western Raqqa – map". Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  13. 1 2 Fadel, Leith (22 June 2016). "Disastrous turn of events force the Syrian Army to withdraw from west Raqqa". Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 "After 15 days, The IS forces regime forces to pull back from al-Raqqa province" . Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Aerial bombardment kills about 20 in al-Tabaqa" . Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Adra, Zen (2 June 2016). "Breaking: SAA begins military operation to recapture ISIS-held Raqqa + [Photos]". almasdarnews.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Syrian army opens new front as Islamic State's many foes attack". 3 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016– via Reuters.
  18. ↑ "Syria: Kurdish SDF militia battling Isis near the Turkish border". Morning Star . Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "Hassan Ridha on Twitter" . Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  20. ↑ Fadel, Leith (3 June 2016). "Syrian Army liberates first village in west Raqqa, 35 km to Tabaqa". Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Syria army pushes into IS bastion province of Raqa". AFP. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  22. ↑ Fadel, Leith (4 June 2016). "Syrian Army continues Raqqa offensive amid dust storm: video". Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  23. 1 2 Fadel, Leith (5 June 2016). "Syrian Army, Desert Hawks liberate Abu Allaj village in west Raqqa - Map update". Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Fadel, Leith (5 June 2016). "Syrian Army liberates new hilltop en route to Raqqa". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  25. ↑ Fadel, Leith (6 June 2016). "Syrian Army, Desert Hawks liberates new point in west Raqqa". Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  26. ↑ "Army presses advance on jihadists at Syria's biggest dam - Region - World - Ahram Online" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  27. ↑ Tomson, Chris (6 June 2016). "Another ISIS village captured as the Syrian Arab Army marches towards Raqqa". Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  28. ↑ "Syrian troops capture more ground in push on IS stronghold". AP News. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Farsnews" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  30. ↑ "ISIS hits back against Syrian army after advance" . Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  31. ↑ "Syrian army, U.S.-backed forces advance separately against Islamic State". 7 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016– via Reuters.
  32. ↑ Fadel, Leith (8 June 2016). "Syrian Army reaches key crossroad in Raqqa". Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  33. ↑ Tomson, Chris (10 June 2016). "Syrian Army just 20 kilometers from Tabqa Airbase - Raqqa map update". Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "About 100 fighters killed during clashes in al-Raqqa countryside".
  35. ↑ "Syrian govt forces seize strategic crossroads in Raqqa province: army, activists".
  36. ↑ "Airstrikes pound ISIS at Tabqa Airbase ahead of planned Syrian Army offensive". 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  37. ↑ "Syrian Army attacked by teenage ISIS suicide bombers in west Raqqa, 13 year old captured". 11 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Counterattack by infiltrates of the "caliphate cubs" on the southern countryside al-Tabaqa and the regime forces are waiting for reinforcement".
  39. ↑ Fadel, Leith (12 June 2016). "Syrian Army 6 km away from strategic Rusafeh District in southern Raqqa". Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  40. ↑ Tomson, Chris (13 June 2016). "ISIS fails in major night offensive on Syrian Army supply road to Western Raqqa". Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  41. 1 2 "Syria regime surges towards IS-held Tabqa: monitor". AFP. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  42. ↑ Fadel, Leith (19 June 2016). "Syrian Army resumes west Raqqa offensive". Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  43. ↑ "Syrian forces advance on IS-held air base". AP. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  44. ↑ Fadel, Leith (19 June 2016). "ISIS reverses Syrian Army gains near Tabaqa Airport" . Retrieved 21 June 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  45. ↑ Fadel, Leith (20 June 2016). "Syrian Army launches new assault to liberate Thawrah Oil Fields in west Raqqa". Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  46. ↑ "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". Facebook . Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  47. ↑ "Syrian army retakes gas field in Raqqa - ARA News". 21 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  48. ↑ "ISIS recaptures Sfaiyeh oil fields in West Raqqa". Al Masdar news. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  49. ↑ "IS expels Syria regime forces from Raqqa province, monitor says". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  50. ↑ Fadel, Leith (21 June 2016). "ISIS captures Khirbat Zeidan in west Raqqa". Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  51. ↑ Fadel, Leith (22 June 2016). "Syrian Armed Forces withdraw from final points in west Raqqa: map" . Retrieved 24 June 2016.

35°38′40″N38°26′02″E / 35.6445°N 38.4339°E / 35.6445; 38.4339

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.