2015 Southern Syria offensive

2015 Southern Syria offensive
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Syrian Government control      Opposition control      Contested
Date 7 February – 13 March 2015 (1 month and 6 days) Location Daraa Governorate, Rif Dimashq Governorate and Quneitra Governorate, Syria Result Syrian Army/Hezbollah/IRGC victory during phase one; Stalemate during phase two Government forces capture seven towns and villages and eight hills[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Syrian Revolutionary Command Council Free Syrian Army[4] Islamic Front Islamic Muthanna Movement[5] al-Nusra Front Jamaat Bayt al-Maqdis al-Islamiya [5][6]	Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces National Defence Force Hezbollah Iranian IRGC[7] Liwa Fatemiyoun[8] Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada[9] Jaysh al-Wafaa[10]
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Bashar al-Zoubi (Southern Front leader) Maj. Abu Osama al-Jolani[11] Col. Saber Safar (leader of the First Army)[12] Mukhtar Abu Omar † (top military leader of al-Nusra Front in Southern Syria)[13][14]	Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani[15] Mustafa Badr Al Din[16] Maj. Gen. Suheil Salman Hassan (5th Mechanized Division) Brig. Gen. Omar Abrash (7th Mechanized Division) Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Mustafa †[17] Col. Abbas Abdollahi †[18][19] Alireza Tavassoli † (Liwa Fatemiyoun leader)[20]
Units involved
Southern Front First Army[5] Islamic Front Ahrar ash-Sham[5]	5th Mechanized Division[21] 7th Infantry Division[21] 9th Armored Division[21] 10th Armored Division[22]
Strength
2,500[23]	5,000[23] 300 Hezbollah[11]
Casualties and losses
294 killed (Syrian Army claim)[24] 300 killed and wounded (rebel claim)[25]	63 killed (Syrian Army claim)[26][27][28][29] 43 killed, 10–12 executed, 40 captured (SOHR claim)[8][30][31] 400 killed (rebel claim)[25]

The 2015 Southern Syria offensive, code-named "Ali Allah Dadi for Quneitra Martyrs",^[32] was an offensive launched in southern Syria during the Syrian Civil War by the Syrian Arab Army, Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps forces.^[33] Government forces also include Iranian sponsored Afghani Shi'ite volunteer militias.^[29] The name "Operation Martyrs of Quneitra" refers to the January 2015 Mazraat Amal incident, in which several high level Hezbollah and IRGC members were killed in an Israeli strike.^[34]

After Syrian troops and their allies captured 15 towns, villages and hills,^[1][2][3] the operation slowed^[35] and stalled^[25] during attempts to advance on Kafr Shams and Kafr Nasij.^[36] The gains by pro-government troops were described as limited,^[35] while the pro-Damascus As-Safir reported the gains were a "devastating" defeat for the rebels.^[37] Most viewed the offensive as unsuccessful,^{[38][39][40][41][42]} with the rebels "weathering"^[43] the "collapsed" offensive.^[44]

Background

In October 2014, the rebels captured the electronic warfare station at Tal al-Harra thanks to the defection of General Mahmoud Abu Araj, who remained in his Syrian Arab Army position while passing intel to insurgent forces and sowing discord between Army forces and their Iranian allies; this led to the execution of as many as 56 Army officers in an attempt to stem the intel leaks.^[45] The recapture of Tal al-Harra would be one of the main objectives of the coming offensive.^[46]

The strategic aims of the offensive were recapture Tal al-Harra,^[47] the elimination of a perceived rebel-Israeli buffer zone protected by Al-Nusra Front forces in the area between Israel and Syria, guarding the Syrian capital of Damascus against further rebel encroachment, preventing the Syrian rebels from establishing a southeastern front in Lebanon and cutting off rebel supply lines leading to Jordan.^[48] An additional aim of the offensive was the creation of a Hezbollah-controlled "Golan front"^{[nb 1]} against Israel.^{[49][50][51][52][53]} The offensive focused on a triangle of rebel-held territory from rural areas southwest of Damascus to Daraa city to Quneitra,^[54] with the initial focus being on seizing the villages of Kafr Shams, Zimreen and Deir al-Adas.^[21]

A source close to senior Hezbollah figures stated that the start date of the offensive was accelerated due to the assassination carried out by Israel in the Golan heights of several high-ranking Hezbollah and Iranian military figures.^[55]

Offensive

Initial government advance

On 7 February 2015, the Army's 5th Armored Division, along with reinforcements from the 7th Infantry Division, launched the offensive in the northern part of Daraa province.^[21] During the first day's fighting, 10 rebels were killed in clashes around Kafr Shams.^[56]

On 8 February, government forces bombarded multiple towns in Daraa province^[57] and heavy fighting ensued which left 11 rebels dead. The heaviest clashes occurred at Kafr Shams.^[58] The military also bombarded the towns of Om Batena and Mashara in the Quneitra province,^[59] as the Army's 9th Division launched an offensive in that governorate as well. According to a military source, government forces captured several hills.^[26] Meanwhile, in Rif Dimashq province government troops managed to capture Tall Marri hill, but were unable to advance towards the town of Deir Makir.^[60] The capture of Tall Marri hill was significant because it cut a rebel supply line and increased the isolation of rebel-held pockets around the city of Damascus.^[61]

On 9 February, fighting erupted in Deir Makir^[62] and around Deir al-Adas in Daraa where four rebels were killed and two Army tanks were destroyed.^[63] By the end of the day, the Army, supported by the NDF, Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, advanced in the al-Ollayqat area near Deir al-Adas.^[64] Military sources reported that 65% Deir al-Adas, as well as Tal Ghasham near Kafr Shams, were captured.^[65] The Army also captured the village of Tayha.^[66]

According to the rebels, government troops were supported by a large number of Afghan fighters as well during the offensive in Daraa and Rif Dimashq.^[67]

On the morning of 10 February, the Army ambushed a group of Al-Nusra Front rebels at the village of Mahjat, in northern Daraa, leaving between 8 and 19 fighters dead.^[68][69] Meanwhile, fighting in Der al-Adas left another eight rebels dead,^[70] while government troops advanced and captured Deir Makir,^[71][72] al-Danaji^[73][74] and Habariyah.^[75] Later the military secured Deir al-Adas,^[76][77][78] with over 40 rebels and 23 soldiers being killed during the battle for the town.^[76]

During the day, government artillery and air strikes hit rebel positions in Mashara, directly east of Quneitra and Harrah, to cut off rebels in Daraa from the Golan.^[73] A reporter for the Lebanese al-Mayadeen news channel, embedded with the Syrian Army, reported from Quneitra that the offensive had cut an important rebel supply route from Jordan to opposition-held areas west of Damascus.^[72] Army artillery from Tall Ghurabah hill also struck rebel positions on Tall Antar hill, near Kafr Shams, during the day.^[79]

On 11 February, the Army and Hezbollah captured the hills of al-Arus and al-Sarja,^[80][81] near Deir Makir and al-Mseeh hill near Deir al Adas,^[1] and advanced towards Sultaniyah,^[82][83] which they bombarded.^[80] Meanwhile, Harrah residents reportedly asked rebel fighters to evacuate so to avoid any potential clashes in the town.^[84] At this point, the second phase of the government's Daraa offensive was started with fighting happening all along the frontline.^[85] In Rif Dimashq, according to SOHR, fighting raged around Tall Fatima hill where a number of soldiers were captured, as well as around Hamrit with one tank being destroyed, and over Tall Antar and Tall Alaqiyah.^[86][87]

On 12 February, rapid advances by government forces slowed because of a snowstorm in the region.^[88] Still, the military captured the Ghirbal area of the town of Kafr Nasij, where fighters from Deir al-Adas had retreated to and were continuing to fight. After this, the commander of the rebel FSA 24th Division issued an urgent call for reinforcements.^[89][90] Fierce fighting also occurred in Sultaniyah,^[91] while the Army seized Tall Fatima hill^[22] and pushed the rebels toward Tall Qrein hill.^[92] Kafr Shams was also coming under attack.^[93]

Offensive stalls

In the following days, the rebels managed to recapture Tayha and Habariyah.^[25][94]

On 14 February, government forces continued to bombard Kafr Shams, Kafr Nasij and Tall Antar hill.^[95] Two Iranian IRGC officers (one of them a colonel) were killed in Kafr Nasij that day,^[18] while two reporters from the pro-government Al-Ekhbaria TV channel were wounded by rebel shelling on Deir al-Adas.^[96] According to the SOHR, 10 soldiers were executed on the charge of passing information to the enemy,^[30] while 5,000 more reinforcements were ordered to fight the rebels in the south.^[97] An Al-Nusra Front counter-attack on Deir al-Adas was reportedly repelled with 19 rebels and 11 soldiers being killed.^[98]

On 15 February, the Syrian Air Force resumed bombing rebel positions, after being forced to remain on the ground for five days due to bad weather conditions.^[99] Rebels claimed to have captured a senior Iranian officer and a Russian military missile system operator on the Daraa frontline.^[8] However, the Southern Front spokesman denied the claim of Iranian prisoners, but confirmed that the bodies of the two Iranian officers were in rebel possession.^[100]

On 17 February, a Hezbollah attack on Mashara was repelled.^[100] Still, fighting continued in the area of the village and the next day a military source reported Hezbollah had captured Syria Tel Hill.^[101] At the same time, the al-Nusra Front started a counter-attack to recapture all ground lost since the start of the offensive and managed to advance near al-Danaji.^[102]

On 19 February, the al-Nusra Front recaptured Tall Fatima and advanced towards Deir Maker. However, after fierce resistance from the 9th Armored Division, al-Nusra retreated to the recently captured hill after suffering 22 dead.^[103] The next day, a military source reported that Hezbollah continued their fierce assault on the al-Nusra Front south of the recently captured Syria Tel Hill, where they reportedly advanced further south in the village of Mashara, while in Al-Hamidiyyeh, the 9th Armored Division reportedly progressed towards the village cemetery after fierce clashes for two straight days.^[104] Later in the day, the Army recaptured Tall Fatima.^[105] However, on 21 February, fighting renewed for Tall Fatima.^[106]

On 25 February, after three days of inactivity due to harsh weather,^[107] Hezbollah made an attempt to capture Al-Hamidiyyeh^[108] and reportedly killed 16 rebels.^[109]

Renewed government advance

Over 27 and 28 February,^[110] government troops captured Sultaniyah, Habariyah, Hamrit and Sabsabah, as well as Tall Qrein and Tall Fatima hills.^[2][111] The battle for Tall Qrein lasted two hours.^[111] Heavy fighting continued in the Tal al-Allaqiya, Tal Samn, Aqrabah, Simlin^[112] and around Kafr Nasij and Kafr Shams where government forces attempted to advance.^[113] During the two-day clashes, at least 26 soldiers and 19–51 rebels were killed.^{[2][114][115]}

On 1 March, the Army made new attempts to advance at Kafr Shams,^[116] while they captured Tall al-Bazzaq^[117] and Rajm al-Sayd hill, also known as Tal al-Sayyad.^[3][118] Syrian troops and Hezbollah also managed to advance to within 10 kilometers from Tal al-Harra, capturing hills overlooking it.^[3] At this point, the Army stated they had completed the first phase of their offensive, creating a buffer-zone between northwest Daraa and the West Ghouta area of Rif Dimashq. The second planned phase would be a two-pronged attack, with the 7th Division attempting to capture Kafr Shams, while Hezbollah and the 9th Division will look to capture Kafr Nasij, after which both divisions and Hezbollah would link up at ‘Aqraba. A large part of the offensive would consist from the 9th Division and Hezbollah’s advance to Nabi Sakhar and their capture of ‘Umm Batna and Mashara.^[119] The Syrian Brigadier General Mahmoud Mustafa (commander of a commando unit) was reportedly killed in Hebbariye, Quneitra, that day.^[17][120]

On 3 March, it was reported that seven Afghan pro-government fighters were buried, including the commander of the Afghan volunteer Fatemiyoun Brigade, Alireza Tavassoli, who was killed on 28 February in Daraa province.^[20] That day, an operation room, consisting of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar ash-Sham, Jamaat Bayt al-Maqdis al-Islamiya and the Islamic Muthanna Movement, was established in Daraa. The Free Syrian Army's First Army played a secondary role in this operation room. The reason for this, was the repeated failures to repel government attacks and the lack of unity among the moderate rebel groups. Most of the Southern Front affiliated groups refused to play a significant role in the battle.^[5][6]

Offensive's second phase

The second phase of the offensive started 4 March, with the military and Hezbollah attacking Tal Al-Mal, Kafr Shams and Kafr Nasij at the same time. At Tal Al-Mal, they reportedly managed to break through rebel defenses, while the clashes at Kafr Shams left 17 rebels and 7 soldiers dead, according to a military source.^[36]

On 11 March, the Syrian Air Force bombed the headquarters of the First Army in the southern countryside of Quneitra, killing a number of rebels including the First Army's commander.^[121] Four days later, Lebanese, Hezbollah-affiliated, television station Al-Manar reported that 120 Al-Nusra fighters, including three field commanders, were killed in another air-raid in Quneitra province.^[122]

On 13 March, after almost two weeks of fighting, the military reportedly advanced towards the southwestern part of Kafr Nasij.^[123]

Aftermath

On 6 April, rebels launched a counter-attack in the Kafr Shams area,^[4][124] advanced and captured a checkpoint.^[125] The same day, an ambush in Khan Arnaba, in Quneitra province, conducted by government troops left six rebels dead and many others missing.^[126] Between 6 and 8 April, at least 35 rebels were killed during the counter-attack, which resulted in the capture of several Army checkpoints and positions.^[127]

On 20 April, the Syrian Army, backed by the NDF and the PLA, launched a new offensive near the town of Busra al-Harir and captured five villages,^{[128][129][130]} cutting the rebel supply line between Jordan and rebel positions in the Lajat area.^[131][132] An assault on Busra al-Harir itself was repelled.^[132] The next day, the Army reportedly retreated from around Busra al-Harir and the rebels re-established their supply route. 37 rebels^[133][134] and 28 soldiers were killed^[135] and five Army tanks were destroyed during the operation.^[134] A number of pro-government troops were also captured, including some foreign fighters.^[136] Over the next 24 hours, another 37 rebels and 11 soldiers were killed, according to a military source.^[137]

Analysis

The offensive was seen as a strategic Axis of Resistance effort against Israel as well as an attempt to broaden the appeal of the Axis to groups such as Hamas,^[34]

Following the offensive, as part of the internal disputes in regard to the Iranians, Maj. Gen. Rustum Ghazaleh was severely attacked by Lt. Gen. Rafik Shehadeh's bodyguards for disagreeing with the role of foreign forces aiding government troops, and both were reportedly fired from their positions.^[138] News emerged two months later that Ghazaleh had died after complications from a severe head wound, after having been "clinically dead" for several weeks.^[139]

Jordan signaled as a result of the offensive that it was no longer willing to tolerate the Syrian government's increasing reliance upon Iranian and Hezbollah support, with a Jordian official stating "We cannot allow Iran to come to our backyard. They have entertained too many ideas lately with Soleimani calling the shots". New weapons and logistical support also arrived from Saudi Arabia in reaction to the increased foreign support of the Syrian government.^[140][141] This increased support by Jordan and Saudi Arabia to opposition forces led to the rebel capture of Bosra in late March^[55] and the rebel takeover of the Nasib border crossing with Jordan at the beginning of April.^[142]

In the opinion of Jeffrey White from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the offensive "produced small gains with substantial regime casualties" and the intervention of government allies, due to its declining capabilities, could not change the outcome.^[143]

Notes

References

Syrian Civil War
Part of the Arab Spring
Background Timeline Background 1963 coup d'état 1966 coup d'état 1970 "Corrective Revolution" 1979–82 Islamic uprising 1999 Latakia protests 2000–01 Damascus Spring 2004 Qamishli riots Syrian occupation of Lebanon 2005 Damascus Declaration Human rights in Syria 2011 (Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec) Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb Siege of Daraa Siege of Baniyas Talkalakh siege Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh Jisr ash-Shugur operation Siege of Hama Siege of Homs Jabal al-Zawiya operation Siege of Latakia Deir ez-Zor Clashes Rif Dimashq clashes Battle of Zabadani Battle of Douma Daraa Governorate clashes First Battle of Rastan Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush Idlib Governorate clashes Jabal al-Zawiya massacres 2012 (Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec) al-Midan bombing Second Battle of Rastan First Idlib operation First Battle of Idlib First Battle of al-Qusayr Second Idlib operation Battle of Taftanaz Third Battle of Rastan Houla massacre Battle of al-Haffah Al-Qubeir massacre Battle of Tremseh Battle of Damascus Damascus bombing Battle of Aleppo Battle of Anadan Siege of Base 46 Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–13) First Rif Dimashq offensive Darayya massacre Battle of Khirbet al-Joz Battle of Maarrat al-Nu'man First Siege of Wadi Deif Battle of Harem Second Rif Dimashq offensive Battle of Darayya Aqrab massacre First Hama offensive Halfaya massacre Battle of Darayya Quneitra Governorate clashes Talbiseh bakery massacre 2013 (Jan–Apr • May–Dec) Battle of Safira Battle of Shadadeh Damascus offensive Raqqa campaign (2012–13) (Battle of Raqqa (2013)) Daraa offensive Third Rif Dimashq offensive Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl Ghouta chemical attack Al-Qusayr offensive Second Battle of al-Qusayr Bayda and Baniyas massacres Second Hama offensive Hatla massacre Khan al-Assal chemical attack Khan al-Assal massacre Adra massacre Battle of Ras al-Ayn Battle of Tell Abyad Fourth Rif Dimashq offensive Aleppo offensive 2014 (Jan–Jul • Aug–Dec) First Inter-Rebel Conflict Battle of Markada First Deir ez-Zor Offensive Battle of Mork 2nd Daraa Offensive Maan massacre Al-Otaiba ambush 4th Idlib Offensive Battle of Hosn 2nd Latakia Offensive Battle of Al-Malihah Kafr Zita chemical attack Second Siege of Wadi Deif 2nd Qalamoun Offensive Battle of Arsal First Battle of the Shaer gas field Eastern Syria Offensive Battle for Tabqa Air base Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014) 3rd Hama Offensive Quneitra Offensive 6th Rif Dimashq offensive Siege of Kobanî 3rd Daraa offensive 2nd Al-Safira offensive Idlib Raid Second Inter-Rebel Conflict Second Battle of the Shaer gas field Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive 2015 (Jan–Jul • Aug–Dec) An-26 crash 4th Daraa Offensive Southern Syria Offensive Eastern al-Hasakah offensive 1st Battle of Sarrin 2nd Battle of Sarrin Battle of Bosra 5th Idlib Offensive Second Battle of Idlib Battle of Nasib Border Crossing 2nd Battle of Yarmouk Camp Western al-Hasakah offensive Palmyra offensive (May 2015) 2015 Qamishli bombings Tell Abyad offensive Kobanî massacre Quneitra offensive Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015) 7th Rif Dimashq offensive Northwestern Syria offensive 2015 Aleppo offensive 2015 Al-Hawl offensive Homs offensive (November–December 2015) East Aleppo offensive (2015–16) Latakia offensive (2015–2016) Tishrin Dam offensive 2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown 2016 (Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec) Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive Sayyidah Zaynab bombings Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (February–March 2016) Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016) February Homs bombings February Sayyidah Zaynab bombings 2016 Khanasir offensive Battle of Tel Abyad Battle of Qamishli (April 2016) Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016) Palmyra offensive (March 2016) East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) 8th Rif Dimashq offensive Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016) May 2016 Jableh and Tartous bombings Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016) 9th Rif Dimashq offensive Manbij offensive Tokhar 2016 Southern Aleppo campaign Battle of al-Rai (August 2016) 2016 Aleppo summer campaign Western al-Bab offensive (September 2016) 5 September 2016 Syria bombings September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid September 2016 Urum al-Kubra Aid Convoy attack September Aleppo offensive 2016 Dabiq offensive Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016) Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016) Khan al-Shih offensive (October–November 2016) Raqqa campaign (2016–present) Battle of Raqqa (2017) Battle of al-Bab Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016) Palmyra offensive (December 2016) 2017 (Jan–Apr • May–present) Wadi Barada offensive (2016–17) January 2017 Azaz bombing Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017) Idlib Governorate clashes (2017) Deir ez-Zor offensive (January–February 2017) Daraa offensive (February–June 2017) ISIL Daraa offensive (February 2017) Qaboun offensive (2017) Palmyra offensive (2017) East Aleppo offensive (January–April 2017) March 2017 Damascus bombings 2017 al-Jinah airstrike 2017 Hama offensive Battle of Tabqa (2017) Khan Shaykhun chemical attack 2017 Shayrat missile strike 2017 Aleppo suicide car bombing April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2017) Syrian Desert campaign (May 2017–present) Maskanah Plains offensive East Hama offensive 9th Daraa Southern Raqqa offensive (June 2017) 2017 Jobar offensive Quneitra offensive (June 2017) Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017) Central Syria campaign (July 2017–present) 3nd Qalamoun Spillover Spillover into Lebanon Lebanese–Syrian border clashes Battle of Sidon Iranian Embassy Bombing Northern Lebanon Clashes 3nd Qalamoun Syrian-Turkish border clashes December 2011 Syrian–Turkish border clash Turkish aircraft shootdown October 2012 Syrian-Turkish border clashes Reyhanlı bombings January 2014 Turkish airstrike in Syria Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents March 2017 incident Jordanian-Syrian border clashes April 2014 Jordanian–Syrian border airstrike Spillover into Iraq Akashat ambush Operation al-Shabah April 2014 Iraqi–Syrian border airstrike Assassination of Andrei Karlov Turkish military intervention in Syria 2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike
Involved parties Syria Ba'ath Government Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region Syrian Social Nationalist Party Arab Socialist Movement Syrian Communist Party Military & Militias Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Resistance PFLP-GC Jerusalem Brigade Palestine Liberation Army Smaller groups Support for the government Hezbollah involvement Iranian involvement Liwa Fatemiyoun Russia's involvement medical facility targeting military intervention Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq) Syrian opposition, Al-Qaeda affiliates and allies NCSR Government National Coalition Local Co-ordination Committees Syrian National Council Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change Syrian Revolution General Commission Syrian Support Group Adopt a Revolution Syrian Patriotic Group Opposition militias Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army Hawar Kilis Operations Room Ahrar al-Sham Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement Abu Amara Battalions Covert Special Tasks Force Jaysh al-Izza Elite Army 2nd Army Jaysh al-Nasr Martyrs of Islam Brigade National Liberation Movement Central Division 1st Coastal Division Free Idlib Army 23rd Division Jaysh al-Islam al-Rahman Legion 1st Brigade of Damascus Southern Front Army of Free Tribes Criterion Brigades National Front for the Liberation of Syria Jabhat Ansar al-Islam Saraya Ahl al-Sham Authenticity and Development Front Al-Qaratayn Martyrs Brigade[1] Badia Forces[2][3] Revolutionary Commando Army[4] Elite Division Smaller groups al-Qaeda affiliates and allies Tahrir al-Sham Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria Caucasus Emirate Ajnad al-Kavkaz Junud al Makhdi Malhama Tactical Ansar al-Islam splinter faction Smaller groups Allied groups (to the Opposition militias) Muslim Brotherhood of Syria Grey Wolves Smaller groups Support for the Opposition American-led intervention American rescue mission Jordanian intervention Qatari support Saudi Arabia Turkey Rojava (SDF) Rojava government Democratic Union Party Kurdish National Council Smaller political parties SDF groups People's Protection Units Women's Protection Units Anti-Terror Units Al-Sanadid Forces Army of Revolutionaries Elite Forces SDF Military Councils Syriac Military Council (Bethnahrain Women's Protection Forces Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa Raqqa Hawks Brigade Northern Democratic Brigade Free Officers Union Liberation Brigade faction Shahba Forces Liwa Owais al-Qorani remnants Martyr Amara Arab Women's Battalion Battalion of Karachok Martyrs Khabour Guards Nattoreh Smaller groups Allied groups Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kurdistan Workers' Party International Freedom Battalion International Anti-Fascist Battalion Sinjar Resistance Units Êzîdxan Women's Units Smaller groups ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Military of ISIL Dokumacılar Khalid ibn al-Walid Army Liwa al-Aqsa Group of the One and Only Liwa Dawud
People Ammar Abdulhamid Ali al-Abdallah Adnan al-Aroor al-Assad family Bashar Maher Rifaat Rami Makhlouf Hafez Makhlouf Riad al-Asaad Anwar al-Bunni Fahd Jassem al-Freij Haitham al-Maleh Moaz al-Khatib Kamal al-Labwani Hamza al-Khateeb Tal al-Mallohi Fida al-Sayed Riad al-Turk Khaled Khoja Ammar al-Qurabi Suheir Atassi Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni Aref Dalila Farid Ghadry Burhan Ghalioun Razan Ghazzawi Ghassan Hitto Salim Idris Randa Kassis Abdul Halim Khaddam Michel Kilo Bassma Kodmani Ali Habib Mahmud Ali Mahmoud Othman Ibrahim Qashoush Dawoud Rajiha Yassin al-Haj Saleh Bouthaina Shaaban Adib Shishakly Abdulbaset Sieda Riad Seif Fadwa Soliman Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid Yaser Tabbara Razan Zaitouneh Rami Jarrah Abdurrahman Mustafa
Issues Peace process Related topics Elections Issues Casualties Chemical weapons Cities and towns Damaged heritage sites Foreign involvement Human rights violations Humanitarian aid International reactions International demonstrations and protests Massacres Refugees (European migrant crisis) Sectarianism and minorities Spillover into Lebanon Syrian reactions Peace process Arab League monitors Friends of Syria Group Kofi Annan peace plan UN Supervision Mission Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan U.S.–Russia peace proposals on Syria 39th G8 summit UN Security Council Resolution 2118 Geneva II Conference 2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement 2015 Vienna talks 2016 Geneva talks Related topics 2014 Syrian detainee report Exclusive mandate Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference International recognition of the Syrian National Council Syria Files Syrian media coverage The Return to Homs Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait Sunnistan Syrian presidential election, 2014 Elections and referendums held during the civil war Syrian local elections, 2011 Syrian constitutional referendum, 2012 Syrian presidential election, 2014 Rojava local elections, 2015 Syrian parliamentary election, 2016
References ↑ "FSA Launches a New Battle against IS Group in the Desert of #Syrian". en.eldorar.com.  ↑ "Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter".  ↑ "Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter".  ↑ Shaam.org. ""جيش سوريا الجديد " بحلة جديدة .. “مغاوير الثورة” تشكيل بدعم أمريكي لمحاربة تنظيم الدولة في حمص".
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