Aleppo offensive (April 2016)

Aleppo offensive (April 2016)
Part of the Battle of Aleppo (2012–present) and the Syrian Civil War
Date1–12 April 2016
(1 week and 4 days)
LocationAleppo Governorate, Syria
Status

Partial rebel victory

  • The rebels capture Tel Al-Eis[1]
  • Rebel attack on Khalidiyah and Khan Tuman repelled[2]
Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

 Iran

Iranian-backed Shi'ite Militias

Hezbollah

Ba'ath Brigades

Ansar al-Sharia[3]

Ajnad al-Sham[4]

Free Syrian Army
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Syrian commander
Col. Mashallah Shamsi †[5]		 Unknown
Units involved

Syrian Army:

 Iran:

Al-Nusra Front

Turkistan Islamic Party[8]
Syria Free Syrian Army:[4]

Casualties and losses
75 killed (per SOHR)[10][11]
104–140 killed (per rebels)[9][12][13]
1 pilot captured[14]
1 Syrian Sukhoi Su-22[14]		 77 killed (per SOHR)[10][11]
350–370+ killed (per SAA)[6][15]

The Aleppo offensive (April 2016) was an operation that started on 1 April when rebel forces, led by the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, launched an offensive south of Aleppo. The main objective of the operation was to recapture territory they had lost during the large-scale government offensive in late 2015.[16][17]

Offensive

In the afternoon of 1 April, rebel forces launched the offensive, targeting the strategic village of Tel el-Ais,[18] that overlooks the Damascus–Aleppo highway.[1] The operation started with preparatory shelling[18] hitting the village's southwestern flank.[19] This was followed up by a ground assault that included an attack conducted by three suicide car bombers against government positions.[20] According to one report, the bombers did not reach their targets,[19] while according to another, they managed to clear the way for the rebel infantry.[21] Still, the attack on Tel el-Ais was eventually repelled. However, soon after, the rebels launched a second assault,[22] and early on 2 April, they captured Tel el-Ais.[1] The Al-Nusra Front claimed they ambushed government troops as they were withdrawing from the village.[20]

After securing the village, the rebels proceeded to attack and seize the Jabal Al-‘Eiss (Mount Eiss) area, with the Army withdrawing towards Hader.[4] Meanwhile, elsewhere along the frontline, the rebels captured the villages of Abu Ruwayl, Hawbar and Birnah as the offensive started, however they were recaptured by the military by the following morning.[23][24] Among the dead on the government side from the previous two days of fighting were 12 Hezbollah fighters[25] and three IRGC officers.[5]

As of early 3 April, a counter-attack had not yet started as government forces were awaiting the arrival of the final batch of ammunition and vehicles. Later in the day, a rebel source stated 100 government vehicles were seen heading towards the southern countryside of Aleppo.[26] At 10 p.m. that evening,[6] the Army counter-attack started and government forces reportedly captured several points on the eastern and northern perimeter of Tel el-Ais, coming to within a few hundred meters of the village.[27] Still, by the morning, two attacks to breach the village itself had been repelled, although the main assault had not yet taken place as airstrikes continued.[6]

On 5 April, a Syrian Air Force plane was shot down in the area of Tel el-Ais by the Al-Nusra Front,[28] with the pilot captured.[29][30] During the day, members of the Iranian 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade reportedly arrived in Hader.[31] For the first time since February, Russian air-strikes were conducted in the southern Aleppo countryside, in preparation for the Army counter-attack.[32]

Late on 5 April, the Iranian special forces, supported by Syrian Army troops, attacked the village. In the early hours of the next day,[7][33] it was incorrectly claimed they recaptured Tel el-Ais.[34] Still, pro-opposition SOHR confirmed government troops made progress in the area of Tel el-Ais.[33] During the day, the rebels temporarily withdrew from the village due to heavy shelling before returning.[34] Elsewhere, the military captured Zorba, but it was recaptured by the rebels one hour later.[35] The same day, another large Army convoy arrived in the area.[36]

On 9 April, the rebels took control of the village of Khalidiyah, near Khan Tuman,[17][37] as well as two hilltops[38] and large parts of Zaytan, Birnah and al-Qal’ajiyyeh.[8][39] Meanwhile, government forces intensified their shelling of Tel el-Ais and nearby Zorba, with over 100 mortars and rockets being fired at rebel positions, while Russian air-strikes continued.[40]

The next day, the military recaptured Khalidiyah and the rebels withdrew from Zaytan, Birnah and other positions they had taken during the previous 24 hours.[2][41][42] During the rebel assault on Khalidiyah and Khan Tuman, four members of the newly arrived Iranian 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade were killed.[43]

On 12 April, a new government assault on Tel el-Ais started.[44] Before the attack, 300 rockets were launched at rebel positions in the area.[45] Fighting also took place near Khan Tuman.[44] The Army managed to advance and capture several hills in the area,[46] as well as most of the village itself.[13] However, this latest attack on Tel el-Ais was also eventually repelled,[47] when government forces withdrew from the village after not being able to take Jabal Al-‘Eiss hill.[13] The hills that they had also seized earlier in the day were once again under rebel control.[48][49]

Aftermath

One week after the end of the offensive, the rebels once again launched a two-pronged attack against Khan Tuman, Zaytan and Birnah. The attack was quickly repelled, with more than 30 rebels reportedly being killed at Khan Tuman and two of their tanks being destroyed.[50]

On 5 May the Army of Conquest launched another offensive and captured Khan Tuman.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Al-Qaida, other insurgents capture Syrian village". Fox News.
  2. 1 2 Leith Fadel (10 April 2016). "Rebel offensive in southern Aleppo fails as the Syrian Army, Hezbollah recapture Al-Khalidiyah". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Jabhat al-Nusra infantry, tank and BMP going into the battle for Barnah and Zaytan". Live UA Map. 10 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Leith Fadel (3 April 2016). "Rebels advance in southern Aleppo amid heavy casualties". Al-Masdar News.
  5. 1 2 "Three senior Iranian officers killed in confrontations with Syrian rebels in Aleppo - ARA News". ARA News.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Leith Fadel (4 April 2016). "Hezbollah, Syrian Army storm strategic town in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  7. 1 2 Chris Tomson (6 April 2016). "Strategic town of Al-Eis recaptured during night raid led by Iranian troops - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "Jabhat Al-Nusra and factions advance in several fronts at the expense of the regime forces in the southern countryside of Aleppo and about 40 airstrike target the area". SOHR. 10 April 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Oppositions agree on 'big Aleppo operation'". Yeni Safak. 3 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Fierce fighting near Aleppo as Syria cease-fire starts to unravel". 2 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Over 100 killed in upsurge in Syria's Aleppo: activists". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Syrian army and allies launch attack south of Aleppo". Mail Online. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 Chris Tomson (12 April 2016). "Hezbollah assault on Al-Eis in southern Aleppo repelled by Jabhat al-Nusra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Syria jet shot down by rebels". Albin Szakola. 5 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Chris Tomson (13 April 2016). "SouthFront: 250+ Jabhat al-Nusra fighters slaughtered in southern Aleppo in one week". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Fierce fighting kills 35 around Syria's Aleppo: monitor - Breitbart". Breitbart. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  17. 1 2 Chris Tomson (9 April 2016). "Rebels capture al-Khalidyah as tides turn in southern Aleppo - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  18. 1 2 Leith Fadel (1 April 2016). "Rebels launch important offensive in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  19. 1 2 Leith Fadel (1 April 2016). "Rebels storm strategic village in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  20. 1 2 Reuters Editorial (2 April 2016). "Nusra Front, Syrian rebels attack government forces near Aleppo, gain ground". Reuters.
  21. ↑ "Al Nusrah Front, allies launch offensive south of Aleppo". The Long War Journal.
  22. ↑ Leith Fadel (2 April 2016). "Breaking: Rebels capture strategic town in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  23. ↑ "Thomas van Linge". Twitter.
  24. ↑ "Jason Jones". Twitter.
  25. ↑ ABC News. "After Palmyra, Syrian Troops Take Another IS-Controlled Town". ABC News.
  26. ↑ "Ivan Sidorenko". Twitter.
  27. ↑ Chris Tomson (4 April 2016). "Syrian Army begins counter-offensive in southern Aleppo as Russia pounds al-Eis". Al-Masdar News.
  28. ↑ Kareem Shaheen. "Syrian jet downed near Aleppo as fighting picks up across country". the Guardian.
  29. ↑ Paul Antonopoulos (5 April 2016). "Al-Nusra downs aircraft , captures pilot in Aleppo (Video)". Al-Masdar News.
  30. ↑ Sam Dagher (5 April 2016). "Islamist Rebels Shoot Down Syrian Warplane". WSJ. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Leith Fadel (5 April 2016). "Iranian Special Forces arrive in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  32. ↑ Leith Fadel (5 April 2016). "Breaking: Russian fighter jets pound southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  33. 1 2 Tom Perry (6 April 2016). "Syrian army and allies launch attack south of Aleppo". Reuters. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  34. 1 2 Leith Fadel (6 April 2016). "Current battlefield update from southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  35. ↑
  36. ↑ Leith Fadel (6 April 2016). "Massive Syrian Army convoy arrives in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  37. ↑ suliman. "هجوم عنيف وتقدم للفصائل وجبهة النصرة في محيط خان طومان واشتباكات في محيط الشيخ مقصود". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  38. ↑ Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Rebels and Syrian government forces battle in fierce clashes near Aleppo - monitor". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  39. ↑ "Syrian Cease-fire Fraying; Aleppo in Regime Sights". VOA. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  40. ↑ Leith Fadel (9 April 2016). "Syrian Army, IRGC intensify attack in southern Aleppo amid the coming offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  41. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  42. ↑ khaled. "معارك متواصلة وقوات النظام تنفذ هجوماً معاكساً بريف حلب الجنوبي وتتقدم في عدة محاور". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  43. ↑ "Tasnim News Agency - Funeral Held for 4 Iranian Commandos Killed in Syria". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  44. 1 2 ABC News. "Syria Pushes Offensive on Eve of Elections, Talks in Geneva". ABC News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  45. ↑ Paul Antonopoulos (12 April 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah storm Al-Eis in South Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  46. ↑ khaled. "استمرار الاشتباكات بشكل عنيف في منقطتي خان طومان والعيس وقوات النظام تواصل قصفها المكثف للمنطقة". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  48. ↑ khaled. "معارك مستمرة بعنف تزامناً مع ضربات مكثفة على منطقة العيس بريف حلب الجنوبي وقصف يستهدف مارع". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  49. ↑ khaled. "الفصائل الإسلامية والمقاتلة تعاود التقدم بريف حلب الشمالي ومعارك مستمرة بالريف الجنوبي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  50. ↑ Rebel offensive in southern Aleppo turns disastrous due to Syrian Army intel
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