There was also fighting between the Turkish-backed rebel Syrian National Army (SNA) and the US-backed and Kurdish-led SDF in Northeastern Syria, in Operation Dawn of Freedom, 30 November to 12 December, as well as some skirmishes between all these groups and the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Northeast (especially in the Deir ez-Zor offensive, 17 November to 3 December).
On 4 November, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), three SDF fighters and four government SAA soldiers were killed by a SNA infiltration operation on the Al-Raqqah frontlines.[7]
On 17 November, according to SOHR, a SDF fighter was killed in an ISIS attack on military position.[8]
On 19 November, according to SOHR, five SNA fighters were killed in an SDF infiltration operation in Abdouky Al-Kabeer Village west of Tel Abyad City.[9]
On 21 November, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters were killed and 10 others were injured after an ISIS IED exploded targeting their vehicle near Al-Azbah junction in the northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.[12]
On the same day, according to SOHR, an SAA soldier was killed and four others injured in an IED attack by ISIS cells in Al-Rasafah desert in south-western Al-Raqqah.[13]
On 22 November, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters were killed in clashes with SNA fighters on the Abdouki frontline near the city of Tell Abyad.[14]
On 23 November, according to SOHR, two SAA soldiers were killed after ISIS militants ambushed their vehicle in the al-Bishri desert, in the Deir ez-Zor countryside.[15]
On 23 November, according to SOHR, two IRGC troops were killed and two injured in an ISIS attack in Deir Ezzor countryside.[16]
On 24 November, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters were killed and one critically injured in an IED attack by ISIS in the Deir ez-Zor Province.[17]
On the same day, according to SOHR, 15 SNA fighters were killed in an SDF infiltration attack on the Al-Daghlabash frontline in Aleppo countryside.[18]
On 25 November, according to SOHR, a SDF fighter was killed in clashes with SNA in the Afrin countryside.[19]
On 25 November, according to SOHR, a National Defence Forces (NDF - government-loyalist militia) fighter was killed by ISIS cells in Al-Raqqah province.[20]
On 25 November, according to SOHR, a SAA soldier was killed and 9 others injured in an IED attack occurred in Homs.[21]
On 25 November, according to SOHR, two Hezbollah fighters were killed five injured in Israeli airstrike on Homs Province.[22]
On 26 November, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters were killed in an attack by ISIS cells on Al-Hasakah and Al-Raqqah Highway.[23]
That day, according to SOHR, a SDF member was killed in Al-Qamishly by unidentified gunmen.[28] According to SOHR, a SAA soldier was killed and 2 injured in an attack in Al-Suwaydaa Province.[29] On 29 November, according to SOHR, 54 people were killed in Syria.[30]
On 30 November 2024, opposition groups captured most of Aleppo amidst the collapse of pro-government forces.<[31][32] On 30 November, according to SOHR, a SAA soldier and three Bedouin tribe members were killed in Al-Suwaydaa.[33] On 30 November, according to SOHR, 70 people were killed in Syria.[34] On the same day, according to SOHR, three SNA fighters were killed in a Russian airstrike on their positions in Al-Karidiya frontline in Al-Bab countryside eastern of Aleppo.[35]
The SOHR reported that at least 746 people were killed in Syria in the month of November 2024, the largest monthly death toll in nearly 60 months.[36]
On the same day, according to SOHR, opposition forces took control of Khanasir and As-Safira towns and Kuwayres military airbase in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Nine SAA soldiers were killed during the fighting.[38]
Furthermore, according to SOHR, six Iranian militamen were killed in a local gunmen attack in Talbiseh City.[39]
According to SOHR, 13 civilians were killed by a Russian airstrike in Idlib city and 12 other people were killed in a Russian airstrike in Aleppo city centre including 2 HTS fighters.[40][41]
On 2 December, according to Kurdish sources, the AANES General Security Directorate arrested an ISIS emir in the town of Al-Izba, north of Deir ez-Zor. They said the emir was responsible for several recent bombings and assassinations in the town.[42]
According to SOHR, eight civilians were killed in a HTS rocket attack on Hama city.[43] Four civilians were killed in a Russian airstrike near the directorate of health in Idlib city.[44]
Heavy clashes began between Syrian Army forces and forces of HTS on the renewed Hama front in the towns of Karnaz and Suran.[45] Clashes also occurred on the frontline in the Al-Ghab Plain, amid a failed HTS offensive where at least ten HTS members were killed attacking SAA positions.[46]
On 2 December, according to SOHR, three SDF fighters were killed in a Turkish drone strike on their car on M4 Highway.[47] Also on 2 December, a SAA soldier was killed and another injured by unidentified attack in Al-Hasakah.[48]
Between 2-3 December, according to SOHR, at least 68 people, including 23 Syrian opposition fighters, 29 government soldiers and 16 civilians were killed in Syria.[49]
On 3 December, according to SOHR, a SDF fighter and a civilian were killed in clashes with SAA.[50] Two civilians were killed in a Russian airstrike in Khan Shaykhun, southern Idlib.[51] At least 17 SAA soldiers and 8 HTS fighters were killed in the clashes north of Hama on 3 December; two civilians were also killed by HTS shelling in the city.[52]
According to SOHR, at least 11 SDF/civilians, including a woman, were executed by SNA fighters amid many more Kurdish civilians being held captive and evacuated from the Al-Shuhabaa area and northern Aleppo countryside.[53] Also on 3 December, six SAA soldiers were killed in an American airstrike near Deir ez Zor airport.[54]
Between 3-4 December, according to SOHR, at least 129 people, including 70 Syrian opposition fighters, 47 SAA soldiers and 12 civilians were killed in Syria.[55]
On 5 December 2024, opposition forces captured Hama.[56][57]
On 6 December, advancing south on the M5 motorway from Hama, HTS-led rebels entered Al-Dar al-Kabera, on the northern edge of Syria's third city Homs, where the government forces were expected to make their last stand. The government lost control of Deraa to local rebels, who gave government offciers safe passage to Damascus. Civilian residents of Suwaida took control of their town from the government. The Russian government ordered its nationals to leave the country. Iran pledged extra support for the regime, while Israel struck targets on the Lebanese border to prevent Hezbollah engagement.[58]
That day, the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Kurdish and Arab fighters of the SDF, took control of Deir ez-Zor city after government forces and Iran-backed militias withdrew.[58] According to SOHR, a SDF fighter was killed and three others injured in a Turkish shelling of Manbij.[59]
On 7 December, rebel Syrian forces entered the capital city of Damascus, amid rumours that Bashar al-Assad had fled the nation.[60] On that same day, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters were killed in a Turkish kamikaze drone strike in Manbij City.[61]
On 8 December, Syrian opposition forces in the Operations Room to Liberate Damascus, who had been waiting for HTS-led forces to take Homs, captured Damascus, with thousands of government soldiers surrendering before fighting began.[62][63][64]
On 9 December, Turkish-backed SNA fighters captured the city of Manbij in northern Syria.[74]
On the same day, according to SOHR, 11 civilians were killed by a Turkish drone strike in SDF-controlled Al-Mustariha in Ain Issa countryside in northern Al-Raqqah.[75] The same day Ali Mahmoud, the highest ranking Syrian officer was found dead.[citation needed]
Furthermore, according to SOHR, 11 SDF fighters were also killed in a Turkish drone strike on an SDF position near Qarquzaq bridge east of Manbij.[76]
On 9 December, according to SOHR, at least 80 people were killed in Syria.[77]
On 10 December, according to SOHR, at least 3 civilians[78] and tens of wounded Manbij Military Council fighters were extrajudicially executed by SNA fighters after the fall of the Manbij area to SNA forces following the Manbij offensive.[79]
Five fighters of Ahrar al-Sharqiya were killed in clashes with SDF forces after attacking SDF positions in Al-Aliyah and Al-Susah towns in Tel Tamr countryside in northern Al-Hasakah, according to SOHR.[80]
As part of a new offensive into ex-SAA positions in the Homs desert, ISIS militants captured and executed at least 54 ex-Syrian Army soldiers, according to SOHR.[81]
Eight civilians were killed by a Turkish drone strike in the village of Safia in the Ain Issa countryside, according to SOHR.[82] Another two civilians were also killed in a separate Turkish drone strike in Ja’ada Village south west of Kobani.[83]
At least six employees working in the Al-Taim oil field were killed in an attack by ISIS fighters, according to SOHR.[84]
On 10 December, according to SOHR, at least 198 people were killed in Syria, including 68 SDF and 30 SNA fighters in clashes in Manbij.[85]
On 11 December, according to SOHR, six SDF fighters were killed and four others wounded by a Turkish drone strike in West of Euphrates.[86]
On 12 December, according to SOHR, at least 51 people were killed in Syria.[87]
At least five civilians were executed by ISIS militants in two separate attacks in the Jabal Al-Omour area in the Homs countryside, according to SOHR.[88]
On 13 December, according to SOHR, at least 73 people were killed in Syria, including in an execution of 11 people carried out by gunmen in the village of Bahra, Hama.[89]
Four SNA fighters were killed in clashes with SDF forces in an infiltration attempt in the frontline of Qabiyat Saqiro village in Ain Issa countryside and the frontline of Sluk in Al-Hamid and Al-Sharikah villages in Tel Abyad countryside according to SOHR.[90]
On 14 December according to SOHR, four militants of the Sham Legion were killed in an ambush by pro-Assad gunmen in the Al-Mazir’a area in Jabla countryside, Latakia.[91] Russia evacuated its T4 base in Homs, leaving it with just two bases in Syria, Khmeimim airbase and Tartous port.[92]
That night, Israel launched multiple airstrikes on Syrian targets, including its naval base in Latakia, despite Abu Mohammed al-Jolani saying HTS was not interested in conflict with Israel.[93]
On 15 December, schools and universities, as well as bars in Christian neighbourhoods, re-opened in Damascus, and large celebrations of the fall of the regime continued. The US and UK both said they had initiated diplomatic contact with al-Jolani's government.[94]
On 16 December, according to SOHR, two ex-SAA soldiers were kidnapped and executed by HTS militants near Homs city.[95]
On 17 December, according to SOHR, a SDF fighter was killed by ISIS attack in Deir Ezzor.[96]
On 17 December, according to SOHR, two SDF fighters was killed and four others wounded by ISIS attack on checkpoint in Al-Raqqa.[97][98]
On 17 December 2024, the US said the ceasefire in the Northeast had been extended,[99] but pro-Kurdish sources said that the factions supported by Turkey announced they would discontinue the ceasefire with groups supported by the US, such as Syrian Democratic Forces. Kurdish sources told Al-Monitor that the SNA, an umbrella informed the SDF "that it would be returning to 'a state of combat against us'... The sources said negotiations between the SDF and the SNA had 'failed' and that 'significant military buildups' in areas east and west of the Kurdish town of Kobani on the Turkish border were being observed." [100] According to SOHR, four SNA fighters were killed in clashes with SDF forces in an attack on Teshrin Dam in Al-Raqqa countryside.[101] Two civilians were also killed in the crossfire.[102]
In Damascus that day, France met with the transitional government, re-opened its embassy, and said they wold host a meeting of states to end sanctions on the country.[103][104]
On 18 December, according to SOHR, 21 SNA fighters were killed after attacking SDF forces on residential areas in Teshrin Dam near Kobani City.[105]
On 19 December, both Turkey and the SDF renewed their commitment to fighting for Kobani, rejecting any ceasefire deal.[106][107] The SDF leader confirmed for the first time that several non-Syrian Kurds were fighting in its ranks, committing to their departure as Syria entered a new era.[108]
The same day, Iraq returned nearly 2000 Syrian government soldiers who had fled the rebel advance, on condition of their protection by the new government.[109]
Since the beginning of December, Turkish airstrikes left 20 SDF fighters, 15 former SAA soldiers and 16 civilians killed during Operation Dawn of Freedom.[112]
Furthermore, two Kurdish journalists were killed in a Turkish airstrike on their car in Ain-Al Arab countryside.[113]
On 20 December, two ISIS fighters including the emir of Wilayat Al-Khair were killed in a US airstrike in Deir Ezzor.[114]
On 21 December, five civilians were killed in a Turkish airstrike in areas of operation.[115]
Furthermore, five SDF fighters were killed by Turkish and allied artillery shelling of positions on Teshrin Dam.[116]
On 22 December, two civilians were killed in a Turkish artillery shelling of Kobani.[117]
On 24 December, the bodies of 9 dead ex-SAA soldiers were found near Kaziya in Al-Sukhna area in Homs desert, after being captured and executed by ISIS militants in the area.[118]
On 25 December, three former SAA soldiers were executed by ISIS cells in the eastern Homs desert.[119]
On the same day, 12 opposition fighters were killed by armed gunmen following an arrest an ex-officer of the SAA in Tartus.[120]
A protestor was also shot and killed by opposition forces during a protest against HTS fighters attacking an Alawite shrine in Homs city.[121]
A civilian was stabbed to death in a hospital in Manbij by SNA fighters following an earlier dispute.[122]
On 29 December, five SNA fighters were killed by SDF special forces in an infiltration operation on two positions in Al-Raihaniya Village near Tel Tamr Town in the Al-Hasakah countryside.[123]
On the same day, at least 11 people, mostly civilians, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a former Syrian Army weapons depot in Adra, near Damascus.[124]
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↑ "Syrian troops withdraw from Aleppo as rebels advance". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-12-01. Retrieved 2024-12-01. The latest offensive has been led by an Islamist militant group known at Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions backed by Turkey.
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