Northern Aleppo offensive (March–May 2016)

Northern Aleppo offensive (March–May 2016)
Part of the Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War and the Syrian Civil War

Territorial changes in northern Aleppo between 10 March and 23 April 2016
  Controlled by the Syrian Armed Forces
  Controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces
  Controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
  Controlled by the Syrian opposition
  Controlled by the al-Nusra Front
Date10 March 2016 – present
(1 month, 3 weeks and 5 days)
LocationNorthern Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Result

Ongoing

  • The rebels capture the town al-Rai,[1] its border crossing[2] and 20 villages[3][4][5]
  • ISIL recaptures al-Rai, its border crossing[6] and 27 villages[7]
Belligerents

Syria Hawar Kilis Operations Room[8]

Supported by
CJTF-OIR:

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Casualties and losses
Unknown 234 killed (Turkish claim)[17][18]

The Northern Aleppo offensive (March–May 2016) is a series of military operations launched by Syrian opposition forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the northern Aleppo Governorate, near the Syria–Turkey border and the city of Azaz. The offensive is supported by airstrikes against ISIL conducted by the United States-led CJTF-OIR coalition and artillery shelling by the Turkish Armed Forces.[13][19]

The offensive

Initial rebel gains

Between 10 and 14 March, rebel forces seized three villages, including Dudyan.[20][21] On 17 March, ISIL recaptured Dudyan,[22] but lost it again the next day.[4]

On 19 March 2016, rebel forces captured two villages (Toqli and Mregel), north of Aleppo, from ISIL.[23] The following day, Ahrar ash-Sham and the Sultan Murad Brigade exchanged artillery and mortar fire with ISIL. At the end of the battle, ISIL recaptured the villages of Toqli and Mregel after inflicting heavy casualties on the rebels. The two sides also launched shells at the villages of Qara Kopri and Ghazl, causing civilian casualties.[13] On 30 March, rebel forces once again seized Toqli and Mregel. Concurrently, Turkish artillery shelled ISIS positions in the village of Jakkah.[5]

Rebels advance and capture al-Rai

On 1 April, ISIL launched an offensive toward the Levant Front headquarters in the outskirts of Mregel. The attack was repelled by the Sham Legion and the Falcons of Mount Zawiya Brigade and an ISIL bulldozer was destroyed.[11] The rebels than proceeded to capture two villages.[24] Two days later, the al-Moutasem Brigade, the Sultan Murad Brigade, and the Sham Legion launched an offensive toward the ISIL stronghold of al-Rai to the east, capturing eight villages and reached within four kilometers from al-Rai by 4 April.[8] Some of the villages that were seized were: Tal Sha’er,[25] Raqbya, Qantra and Shaabanya.[26] As of 5 April, the rebels had captured at least 16 villages in the area.[27]

On 7 April, with close air support from A-10 Thunderbolt IIs,[28] the rebels captured most of al-Rai[15] and the nearby border crossing.[2] As of 8 April, the rebels had full control of al-Rai, along with 17 other villages.[1][3]

First ISIL counter-attack and recapture of al-Rai

Two days later, early on 10 April, ISIL launched a counter-attack,[29] which included a three-pronged attack against the town of Mare',[30] and quickly recaptured eight villages.[31][32] Still, the rebels once again seized four of the villages several hours later.[33][34] During the day, the international Coalition conducted at least 22 air-strikes on ISIL positions as ground fighting continued.[35] On 11 April, ISIL continued with its counter-attack and retook al-Rai[36] and four other villages.[6][37] In all, ISIL had recaptured in the previous two days, beside al-Rai, 17 other villages.[38] The ISIL counter-offensive included attacks by 11 suicide car-bombers against rebel positions.[39] At the end of the day, the rebels managed once again to retake control of eight villages.[40][38] As of 12 April, ISIL was reportedly in control of 13 localities they had previously lost, including al-Rai.[41]

By 13 April, the rebels managed to retake three villages once again.[42][43] However, on 14 April, ISIL seized 10 new villages, practically cutting rebel forces in two. Rebels in the town of Dudyan were effectively surrounded. The most important village that ISIL captured was Hiwar Kallis, about one kilometer south of the Turkish border. During the ISIL advance, hundreds of rebel fighters retreated across the border into Turkey.[44][45][46][47][48] By the following day, the rebels re-secured five villages, including Hiwar Kallis, reconnecting the two rebel areas.[49][50][51]

Between 15 and 16 April, the back-and-forth fighting continued, with ISIL once again taking control of two villages, while the rebels took two others.[52][53][54] On 17 April, ISIL again captured the village of Tall Battal, west of Al-Rai.[55]

Four days after ISIL regained most of the villages it had lost, the rebels launched a new assault and once again retook two villages.[56] However, ISIL retook them the following day,[57] as well as one other.[10]

Second ISIL counter-attack

Between 26 and 27 April, ISIL launched a new counter-attack, seizing five or six villages, including Dudyan. The rebels retreated to Azaz and Hiwar Kallis. ISIL's advance put them in a good position to strike both Azaz and Mare'.[58][59][60][61] Hours later, the rebels recaptured Dudyan.[62][63] Between 28 and 30 April, the rebels re-seized three other villages.[64][65][66]

Between 1 and 3 May, ISIL once again seized Dudiyan, as well as seven other villages,[67][68] although they lost Dudiyan and two others several hours later.[69] Dudiyan changed hands two more times between 5 and 6 May, eventually remaining under rebel control.[70]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Syria war:Rebels take key northern town of al-Rai from IS".
  2. 1 2 "Report: ISIS abducts over 300 Syrian workers". Arutz Sheva.
  3. 1 2 "Islamic State lose Turkey supply route to Syrian rebels".
  4. 1 2 "Qasion News Agency".
  5. 1 2 "Syrian opposition re-seize over Toqli and Mregel villages".
  6. 1 2 "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Agathocle deSyracuse". Twitter. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Syria rebels near ISIS stronghold in N. Aleppo". Now. 4 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "In Syria, militias armed by the Pentagon fight those armed by the CIA". Los Angeles Times. 27 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 "ISIS advances against Syrian rebels in Aleppo, loses ground to Kurds in Hasakah". ARA News. 24 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 "Islamic State militants hit rebel strongholds on Syrian-Turkish border". ARA News. 2 April 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Al-Moutasem Brigade: An American Backed FSA Group in Northern Aleppo". The OSINT Blog. 1 April 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 "ISIS expels Syrian Islamist rebels from strategic towns near Turkish border". ARA News. 21 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Scores of jihadis killed in clashes with western-backed SDF northern Syria". ARA News. 30 March 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Syrian rebels seize most of IS stronghold: monitor and rebel source". Reuters. 7 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Turkish army ‘ready’ to shell YPG positions if it crosses Azaz-Jarablus line". Hurriyet Daily News. 31 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Free Syrian Army may move to western Syria: Turkish FM". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  18. ↑ Turkish Army claims to kill 34 ISIS fighters in cross-border shelling
  19. ↑ "Turkey shells IS positions inside Syria". Kuwait News Agency. 2 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  21. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  22. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  23. ↑ Jack. "تقدم للفصائل في قرى بريف حلب الشمالي واشتباكات بريف سلمية". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان.
  24. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  25. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  26. ↑ "Qasion News Agency".
  27. ↑ "Syrian rebels advance against Islamic State near Turkish border". Reuters. 5 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "IS photo report on battle al Rai focus on US air support". Live UA Map. 7 April 2016.
  29. ↑ Leith Fadel (10 April 2016). "ISIS begins massive offensive on the Aleppo-Turkey border". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "WorldOnAlert". Twitter. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Leith Fadel (10 April 2016). "ISIS captures 8 villages in northern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "ISIS Seize Over 8 Villages In Northern Aleppo". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  33. ↑ khaled. "معارك متواصلة وقوات النظام تنفذ هجوماً معاكساً بريف حلب الجنوبي وتتقدم في عدة محاور". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  34. ↑ "Opposition Forces Re-Seize Over Villages Northern Aleppo". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  35. ↑ khaled. "22 ضربة جوية ترافق المعارك المتواصلة بالريف الشمالي لحلب وشهداء وجرحى في قصف جوي على مناطق فيها". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  36. ↑ Reuters Editorial (11 April 2016). "Islamic State regains Syrian stronghold near Turkey border: monitor". Reuters. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  37. ↑ khaled. "تنظيم “الدولة الإسلامية” يستعيد السيطرة الكاملة على أهم معاقله – بلدة الراعي بريف حلب الشمالي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Aleppo24". Twitter. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  39. ↑ Chris Tomson (11 April 2016). "ISIS sweeps through a dozen rebel villages in northern Aleppo - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  40. ↑ suliman. "الفصائل تعاود التقدم في ريف حلب الشمالي وقصف جوي على تادف". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  41. ↑ Leith Fadel (12 April 2016). "Rebel defenses collapse in northern Aleppo as ISIS seizes 13 villages in 48 hours". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  42. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  43. ↑ khaled. "الفصائل الإسلامية والمقاتلة تعاود التقدم بريف حلب الشمالي ومعارك مستمرة بالريف الجنوبي". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  44. ↑ Chris Tomson (14 April 2016). "Rebels flee across Turkish border as ISIS snatches more villages - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  45. ↑ "ISIS seizes Syria villages near Turkish border". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  46. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  47. ↑ jack. "Aerial bombardment targets areas of Aleppo and continued clashes in Shekh Maqsoud". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  48. ↑ "IS group makes gains in northern Syria from regime, rebels". Mail Online. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  49. ↑ Chris Tomson (15 April 2016). "Rebels attack ISIS in northern Aleppo and reopen border corridor - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  51. ↑ jack. "Violent clashes near the Turkish borders". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  52. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  53. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  54. ↑ "Syrian opposition rejects offer over transitional period". The Big Story. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  55. ↑ edward. "تنظيم “الدولة الإسلامية” يتقدم مجدداً في ريف حلب الشمالي قرب الحدود مع تركيا". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  56. ↑ "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  57. ↑ News Desk (22 April 2016). "ISIS captures two villages in northern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  58. ↑ AP. "ISIL advances against rebels in north Syria". AP. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  59. ↑ Leith Fadel (27 April 2016). "ISIS captures 5 villages in northern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  60. ↑ khaled. "جيش الثوار يتهم الفصائل بـ “بيع الريف الشمالي لتنظيم داعش” وهدوء يسود مدينة حلب بعد يوم راح ضحيته 20 شهيداً على الأقل". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  61. ↑ "ISIS Seize Over Six Villages In Northern Aleppo". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  62. ↑ Chris Tomson (27 April 2016). "Rebels strike back against ISIS in northern Aleppo and recapture Dudiyan". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  63. ↑ Edward. "11 fighters at least from the rebel factions killed in the clashes in the northern countryside of Aleppo against The Syrian Democratic Forces and more bombing and raids on the city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  64. ↑ "Syrian opposition forces re-seize over Qasajek village in Aleppo countryside". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  65. ↑ "Opposition Seize Over Tal Shae’er … Dozens Of Airstrikes Hits Aleppo Countryside". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  66. ↑ suliman. "اشتباكات يشهدها ريفا حلب الشمالي والجنوبي وتجدد استهداف أحياء بالمدينة بالقذائف والقصف". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  67. ↑ ISIS fights back in northern Aleppo and captures 7 villages from rebels
  68. ↑ ISIS Seize Over 5 Villages Northern Aleppo
  69. ↑ Opposition announce the seizure of the whole areas captured by ISIS in Aleppo countryside
  70. ↑
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