Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014)

Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014)
Part of the Syrian Civil War (Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign)
Date29 August – 22 November 2014
(2 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
LocationDamascus, Syria
Result

Syrian Army victory

  • Army captures Heteta al-Jersh,[1] Adra, Tal Kurdi, Al-Rayhan, the al-Alia farms,[2] Wadi ‘Ayn Tarma,[3] Hosh Al-Farah, Al-Mayda'a,[4] Balaa Al-Jadeeda and most of Jobar[5]
  • Army recaptures al-Dukhaniyya and Kabbasa after temporarily losing them[6][7][8]
  • Army fails to completely secure Zabdin which continued to be contested
Belligerents

Syria Free Syrian Army Islamic Front

Al-Nusra Front[9]

Syrian Arab Republic

Hezbollah[10]
PFLP-GC[11]
Commanders and leaders

Khaled al-Haboush
(Damascus Military Council commander)
Abu Mohammad al-Golani
(Al-Nusra Front leader)

Zahran Alloush
(Jaysh al-Islam leader)[12]		 Unknown
Units involved
Unknown

4th Armoured Division[11]
Republican Guard

  • 105th Mechanized Brigades[11]
  • Lionesses of Defense Armored Battalion[13]
Strength
30,000 ~25,000
Casualties and losses
678 killed (government and rebel claims) 175 killed (government and rebel claims)

The Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014) was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, that was launched in late August 2014, as part of the Syrian Civil War.

Offensive

The capture of the town of Al-Malihah by the Syrian Army in mid-August 2014, was followed by an Army push in Jobar later that month. Some 150 rebels were killed during an Army offensive supported by airstrikes on 29 August.[14][15] Dozens more were killed after the government carried out 25 airstrikes on the neighbourhood on 2 September.[16]

Army and Hezbollah troops also captured the town of Heteta al-Jersh, east of Al-Malihah, after days of heavy fighting.[17]

On 7 September, clashes erupted around al-Dokhania, in an attempt by government forces to re-gain control of al-Dokhania, which was taken over by the al-Nusra Front a day earlier as it killed no less than 40 regular soldiers in the area.[18] The next day, fighting in al-Dokhania left 10 rebels dead amid the Army counter-attack. The rebel attack on al-Dokhania was seen as an attempt to ease the pressure on other nearby rebel-held areas which had been coming under an Army attack in previous days.[19]

On 23 September, the SAA unleashed an offensive which led to the capture of the Steel Factory, the ‘Adra Petrol Station, the Detergent Plant, the chemical factory and the ‘Adra Bakery. According to a military source, two of the leaders of Jabhat Al-Islamiyya were killed during the battle. 102 rebels were killed, while the Army and NDF suffered 48 dead.[20]

On 25 September, government forces took full control of Adra al-Omalia (Adra Industrial Sector).[21] Two days later, government troops pressed their offensive and captured the Adra al Balad Area,[22] thus the Army captured all of Adra.[1] 27 rebels died during the day, while 38 surrendered.[23] 73 soldiers were killed during the battle for the town.[24]

On 28 September, the Army recaptured al-Dukhaniyya, ending the rebels' bid to relieve pressure on the Jobar front.[6][25]

On 29 September, the situation in the al-Dukhaniyya area remained fluid,[26] while the Army captured Al-Suwan and was fighting for Tal Kurdi as they advanced towards Douma.[8] 16 al-Nusra Front fighters were killed in the clashes on the outskirts of al-Dukhaniyya during the day. The next day, fighting continued in the Tal Kurdi and al-Qatari farmlands on the outskirts of Douma.[27]

On 6 October, the Army fully secured the al-Dukhaniyya[28] as it continued the offensive against Douma.[29]

On 8 October, a government source reported the military captured the town of Al-Rayhan, near Douma.[30] This was partially confirmed by the SOHR when it reported, two days later, ongoing clashes in the area with advances by government forces.[31] According to a military source, 53 rebels were killed.[32]

On 11 October, the Republican Guard captured Wadi Ayn Tarma (Ayn Tarma valley) in East Ghouta.[3][33] According to a military source, nearly 180 Jaysh Al-Islam fighters were killed during the one-month siege of the area, including their top commander. The use of bunker buster bombs by the Air Force was reportedly the deciding factor in the fighting since they exposed and obstructed the rebel’s underground supply routes which forced the rebels to retreat and the Republican Guard was able to cross the Baradi river.[34] This brought government forces to the edge of the rebel-held town of Ayn Tarma.[35]

By this time,[36] government forces had also secured Tal Kurdi, Al-Rayhan and the al-Alia farms. This opened the Damascus-Baghdad road and effectively cut all rebel military and relief supplies to Douma.[2]

As of 13 October, according to al-Masdar news, the Syrian Army controlled 70% of Jobar and was advancing towards Parliament Square.[34] The next day, they reported the Army had secured 75% of Jobar and was attacking rebel positions at the Maysaloun Roundabout.[37] 15 rebels were killed in the fighting in Jobar, near al-Zablatani[38]

On 16 October, rebels launched a counter-attack against the Army's rear flank in Jobar and advanced pass the Old Cemetery before the military managed to regroup, repulse their attack and recover lost ground, according to al-Masdar news. At least 23 rebels and 12 soldiers were killed in the fighting.[39]

On 19 October, the Syrian Army fully captured the Zamalka bridge in the Jobar district which resulted in the loss of multiple supply lines for the rebels in Jobar.[40] The same day, the Syrian Army secured a tunnel network which served as a supply line for the rebels in Jobar.[41]

On 20 October, government troops in Jobar were reinforced with newly trained special forces members.[42]

On 28 October, the Army captured the villages of Hosh Al-Farah and Al-Mayda’a. According to a military source, 42 rebels and 13 soldiers were killed in the fighting.[43][4] Two days later, the Syrian Army also took over the eastern hub of Jobar, leaving the rebels only in control of the Al-Manasher Roundabout and Parliament Square.[5] On 1 November, fighting in the Hosh Al-Farah area 30 rebels were killed.[44] During this time, dozens of people reportedly entered the al-Qadam area after an agreement was reached between the government and rebels through mediation.[45]

On 6 November, government troops captured the farm area of Balaa Al-Jadeeda,[46] east of Mliha, thus completing the encirclement of the town of Zabdin.[47] Four days later, the Army entered Zabdin from the northeast, following the capture of the farm area southeast of Heteta al-Jersh, and heavy fighting ensued.[48] Clashes also occurred in Der al-Asafir.[49]

On 17 November, the Army captured the Tal Al-Rayhan hill, southwest of Al-Rayhan, breaking a brief rebel siege of the village.[50]

On 22 November, the Army captured Zabdin,[51] or at least a part of it. The fighting left 12 soldiers dead.[52] In the afternoon, an opposition counter-attack was launched resulting in the rebels recapturing some parts of the town before they were pushed back. 40 rebels were killed.[53][50] Later that night, over 25 soldiers were reportedly killed in a rebel ambush in the Zabdin area which forced government forces to pull back from the area.[54] A pro-government source denied the retreat,[55] although it was later confirmed rebels had recaptured the western part of the town.[56]

Aftermath – December clashes

In early December, fighting continued in Zabdin with troops from the 4th Division reportedly managing to breach rebel defenses in the western part of Zabdin and entering it.[56]

Fighting also intensified in Darayya where the military captured four city blocks, but the situation overall was that both sides were competing in a tireless battle to regain territory.[57] A week later, an opposition source reported that the rebels reversed the Army's gains in the town.[58] On 10 December, the pro-opposition news agency ARA claimed the military imposed their control on Darayya, but it was not independently confirmed.[59]

In mid-December, a military source reported that the 105th Brigade of Republican Guards had the east district of Jobar under complete fire control and that approximately 800 rebels were trapped inside the city district with almost no ways to retreat.[60]

References

  1. 1 2 "Syrian Army Liberates ‘Adra; Civilians Rescued from Jaysh Al-Islam". almasdarnews. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 As Syrian army closes in, Douma residents turn against rebels
  3. 1 2 "Rif Dimashq Province". Facebook. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Syrian Army Captures 2 Villages in the East Ghouta". almasdarnews. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Jobar Military Operations Reaching Final Stages; Jaysh Al-Islam Infiltrates into Hawash Al-Farah". Almasdar News. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Rif Dimashq Province 28-09-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Dokhaniya falling". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Rif Dimashq Province 29-09-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Yezdani, İpek (2 September 2012). "Rebels fighting against al-Assad rule fragmented, disorganized in Syria" (PDF). Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Syrie: l'armée et le Hezbollah reprennent une nouvelle localité près de Damas - L'Orient-Le Jour". Lorientlejour.com. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  11. 1 2 3 "A Comprehensive Update from the Rif Dimashq Governorate". Al Masdar News. 3 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Syrian army captures Al-Maliha". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Battalion of Syrian women commandos in clashes with rebels in Damascus | Daily Mail Online
  14. ↑ Сирийская армия уничтожила 150 боевиков в пригороде Дамаска (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Syria army fights fiercely against rebels in Jobar". Xinhua. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "'Unprecedented' regime strikes on Syria rebel Jubar district". The Daily Star. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Reef Dimashq province". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Reef Dmahq province". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Syria regime forces launch offensive against rebel-held Dukhaniyeh, near Damascus: monitor". ABC News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  20. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Battle Map of Adra; The Village Immersed in Bloodshed". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Reef Dimashq province: rose to 29, the... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Rif Dimashq Province: The regime army... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  23. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Liberates ‘Adra; Civilians Rescued from Jaysh Al-Islam". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  24. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Battle Map Update and Analysis: East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Breaking: Al-Dakhaniyya has been Liberated; ‘Ayn Tarma and Jobar Next". almasdarnews. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Syrian Army pushes ahead in Adra". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "Rif Dimashq Province 30-09-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "Syria army seizes strategic area outside Damascus". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "Syrian army closes in on Douma after Adra victory". Al-Monitor. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "Peto Lucem". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  31. ↑ "SOHR". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  32. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Republican Guard Liberates Al-Rayhan; Liberation of Jobar is Coming". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  33. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Liberates Vital City in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  34. 1 2 Leith Fadel. "Battle Map and Field Reports from the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  35. ↑ Syrian army gains more ground around Damascus
  36. ↑ Syrian Army liberates Waadi ayn Turmaa, 400 of Obama’s rats killed, SAA kills notorious terrorist in Derah
  37. ↑ Leith Fadel. "75 Percent of Jobar is Under SAA Control; Hezbollah Kills Over 55 Militants in Rif Dimashq". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  38. ↑ "15 Islamic fighters killed by clashes against regime forces in Jobar, Damascus". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  39. ↑ "Tug-of-War Battle in Jobar Between the SAA and Jaysh Al-Islam". Almasdar news. 16 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Regains Control of Strategic Bridge in Damascus Countryside". Fars News. 19 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "Peto Lucem". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  42. ↑ "Elijah J. Magnier". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  43. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/syriahroe/posts/603485269759815
  44. ↑ "30 opposition fighters killed in Syria, activists claim". World Bulletin. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  45. ↑ "Damascus Province". SOHR. 29 October 2014.
  46. ↑ Leith Fadel. "East Ghouta Battle Map Update: Republican Guard Captures Balaa Farms". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  47. ↑ "deSyracuse map on 8 november 2014". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  48. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Captures Farms in Zibdeen and Hateet Al-Jarash". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  49. ↑ "Reef Dimashq province". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  50. 1 2 "East Ghouta Battle Map: Syrian Army Captures Zibdeen and Tal Al-Rayan". Al-Masdar. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  51. ↑ "Syrian Army captured city Zebdin". document.sy. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  52. ↑ "12 elements from the regime forces killed in Rif Dimashq". SOHR. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  53. ↑ "Peto Lucem twitter". Peto Lucem. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  54. ↑ "Islamic fighters ambush and kill no less than 25 soldiers in regime forces in Zabdin". SOHR. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  55. ↑ Peto Lucem
  56. 1 2 "A Comprehensive Update from the Rif Dimashq Governorate". Al-Masdar. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  57. ↑ "Rif Dimashq: Syrian Army Destroys a Large Tunnel in Darayya". Al-Masdar. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  58. ↑ Syria Direct: news Update 12-10-14 - Syria Direct
  59. ↑ "Pro-Assad forces regain areas near Damascus". Ara News. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  60. ↑ "Breaking News: Jobar’s East District Under Syrian Army Fire Control". Al Masdar. 13 December 2014.
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