Homs offensive (November–December 2015)

Homs offensive (November 2015)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and
the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War

The military situation in & around the Homs Governorate.
     Syrian Army control

     Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant      Opposition control (including al-Qaeda in the Levant)

     Ongoing confrontation or unclear situation
Date5 November – 29 December 2015
(1 month, 3 weeks and 3 days)
LocationHoms Governorate, Syria
Result

Syrian Army victory

Belligerents

Syria

Hezbollah

Air strikes:
 Russia

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Units involved

Syrian Army:

 Unknown
Strength
~7,000 Syrian troops
60+ Russian Marines[17]		 Unknown

The Homs offensive (November–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.

The offensive

On 5 November, Syrian government forces launched the offensive from the Mahin-Sadad checkpoint and recaptured the Tal Sinni, Tal Hazim, and Al-Wastani hilltops, after clashes with ISIL.[1] Two days later, they carried out an assault at the eastern slopes of the Jabal Al-Hiyal Mountains, seizing several points and advanced to east towards the ancient city of Palmyra.[2]

On 14 November, Syrian government forces captured the hilltop of Tal Hazim Al-Thalatha.[3] Additionally, two days later, they seized the Tal Syriatel, Jabal Ma’ar, Al-Bayarat, the Ancient Palmyra Quarries, Al-Kassarat and Al-Dawa area outside the city of Palmyra after a series of intense firefights with ISIL.[10][19]

On 17 November, Syrian government troops captured the Jabal Al-Hazzm Mountains along the Sadad-Mahin Road and the small village of Al-Hadath to north of the ISIL-held town of Mahin.[4] Four days later, they seized the village of Huwwarin and the strategic hill the Tal Daher.[5] Later, the military captured the large Army Storage Base near Mahin.[6][20][21] On the next day, government forces captured the Jabal Maheen Mountains and parts of Mahin,[7][22] which was fully secured by 23 November, as ISIL retreated to the town Al-Qaryatayn.[8] On the same day, the Army also took control of the Al-Qadri Farms and the Hayyan Mountains, positioning them approximately 4 km away from the western gates of Palmyra, as well as 2 km away from the Qatari Villa near the Homs-Deir Ezzor Highway.[11]

On 25 November, Syrian government forces advance in the vicinity of Al-Qaryatayn and took control of Tel Al-Dekan, Tel Um Kadom, Tel Masayed hills in the surroundings of the town.[9][23]

On 28 November, Syrian government forces, backed by the Russian Air Force, advanced and captured the small villages of Muntar Armilah and Thaniyah, just a few kilometers away from Al-Qaryatayn, along the Mahin-Quryatayn Road.[12]

On 7 December, Syrian government forces imposed full control over the strategic Palmyra-Homs Highway after seizing the villages of Al-Bayarat and Marhatten in the western countryside of the ancient city of Palmyra.[13]

On 10 December, ISIL recaptured the towns of Mahin and Huwwarin, and two hills, after launching a counter-offensive.[24][25] Later, government forces counter-attacked and reportedly partially recaptured the town of Huwwarin.[26] Five days later, ISIL recaptured Hadath.[27]

On 19 December, Syrian government forces approached the Palmyra Castle, after a violent battle with ISIL. This latest advance brought them within 400 meters of the castle, and less than 2 km from the city’s gates.[14] On the same day, Syrian government forces recaptured the 5th Precinct of Mahin, after a fierce battle with ISIL.[28]

On 20 December, Syrian government forces recaptured the Mahin-Sadad Checkpoint after ISIS retreats towards Mahin.[29]

On 23 December, Syrian government forces recaptured the village of Hadath.[30][31] Later, government forces imposed full control over Jabal Al-Hazzm, Jabal Maheen Al-Kabeer, and Al-Kazeeya, after an intense battle with the ISIL near the strategic town of Mahin.[32]

On 27 December, Syrian government forces recaptured the town of Huwwarin.[33][34]

On 29 December, Syrian government forces imposed full control over the Mahin Warehouses and Jabal Mahin (Mahin Mountain), which overlooked Mahin.[15] Later on that day, the Syrian recaptured the town of Mahin.[18][35][36][37]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Christian Forces Fight Back Against ISIS in East Homs: Several Hilltops Captured Near Maheen". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Kills Over 40 ISIS Terrorists in East Homs as They Advance Towards Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Armed Forces Capture Strategic Hill from ISIS in East Homs;". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Armed Forces Launch Massive Military Operation to Liberate Maheen in East Homs". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Armed Forces Counter ISIS in East Homs: Hawareen and Tal Daher Recaptured". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 المرصد السوري. "قوات النظام تتقدم وتسيطر على تلتين غرب بلدة مهين ونحو 80 غارة تستهدف ريفي حمص الشرقي والجنوبي الشرقي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Armed Forces Capture Jabal Maheen in East Homs". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Breaking: Syrian Armed Forces Liberate Maheen in East Homs". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 edward. "خان الشيح تشهد معاركاً متواصلة وقوات النظام تبدأ بمحاولات استعادة السيطرة على مدينة القريتين بريف حمص الجنوبي الشرقي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  10. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Breaking: Syrian Army Captures Tal Syriatel and Jabal Ma'ar in Western Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Captures the Al-Qadri Farms in West Palmyra: 4km to the City". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Russian Air Force Propels the Syrian Armed Forces at Quraytayn in East Homs: Two Villages Captured". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  13. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Captures Final Village Along the Palmyra-Homs Highway". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Syrian Army approaches the gates of Palmyra as ISIS calls for reinforcements". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Breaking: Syrian Armed Forces liberate the Maheen Mountains in East Homs". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  16. ↑ "Elijah J. Magnier". Twitter. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 Leith Fadel. "Russian Marines Deploy to East Homs Amid the Syrian Army's Counter-Offensive in West Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 "ISIS defenses fall apart in southeastern Homs as the Syrian Army captures Maheen". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Leishmaniasis breaks out among Syrian army forces near Palmyra". ARA News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  20. ↑ wesam. "قناة الجزيرة : قوات النظام تستعيد مستودعات مهين بريف #حمص من تنظيم داعش". عكس السير. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "سوريا: قوات الأسد تستعيد مستودعات مهين بريف حمص من تنظيم الدولة". Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  22. ↑ khaled. "معارك عنيفة وتقدم لقوات النظام في أطراف بلدة مهين ومحيطها وقصف مكثف وغارات عليها وعلى منطقة تدمر". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "Hassan Ridha". Twitter. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Leith Fadel. "ISIS Recaptures Maheen After Launching a Massive Counter-Offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  25. ↑ khaled. "تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" يستعيد السيطرة على بلدة مهين وقرية حوارين بعد هجوم عنيف عليهما بريف حمص". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Leith Abou Fadel". Twitter. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  27. ↑ اشتباكات عنيفة في ريفي حمص الشمالي والجنوبي الشرقي وطائرات حربية تقصف منبج بريف حلب
  28. ↑ "Breaking: Syrian Army Captures the 5th Precinct in Maheen". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "Syrian Army recaptures Al-Hadath in east Homs as ISIS retreats towards Maheen". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  30. ↑ khaled. "معارك عنيفة وتقدم لقوات النظام في منطقة الحدث بريف حمص الجنوبي الشرقي و"الحسبة" "تسوي قبوراً" بريف الحسكة". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  31. ↑ Edward. "Violent clashes and advancement for the regime forces in al-Hadath area in the southeastern countryside Homs and "al-Hisba" "flatten graves" in the countryside of Hasaka". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  32. ↑ "Syrian Armed Forces capture several hilltops near the strategic town of Maheen in east Homs". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  33. ↑ "Syrian Army captures Hawareen in east Homs: Maheen under attack". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  34. ↑ edward. "قوات النظام تعاود التقدم في ريف حمص الجنوبي الشرقي وتسيطر على نقاط في محيط مهين". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Breaking: Maheen liberated from ISIS forces". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  36. ↑ khaled. "قوات النظام تتمكن من التقدم واستعادة معظم بلدة مهين وقرية حوارين بعد السيطرة على تلال محيطة بها". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  37. ↑ khaled. "قصف صاروخي على تدمر ومروحيات النظام تقصف ريف حمص الشمالي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
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