Qalamoun offensive (July–August 2017)

Qalamoun offensive (July—August 2017)
Part of the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon and Syrian Civil War
Date21 July 2017 — present
(3 weeks and 1 day)
LocationQalamun Mountains, Lebanon–Syria border
Result

Ongoing

  • Hezbollah took over the Arsal valley[1] and concluded a ceasefire with members of Tahrir al-Sham on the transfer to the province of Idlib[2]
  • 7,000 Syrian refugees and Tahrir al-Sham fighters transferred to Idlib[3]
  • Saraya Ahl al-Sham surrendered in the early phase
Belligerents

Hezbollah
Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Lebanon Lebanon
Support:

Tahrir al-Sham [5]

Syrian opposition Saraya Ahl al-Sham  		 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Hassan Nasrallah Abu Malek al-Tali (HTS emir of Qalamoun) Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Abu Sayyaf al-Jazrawi (ISIL emir of Qalamoun)[6]
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Abu Ayyub al-Iraqi (ISIL emir of Damascus)
Units involved

Hezbollah

Syrian Armed Forces

Lebanese Armed Forces

United States special operations forces[4]		 Unknown

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

  • Qalamoun Emirate
  • Damascus Emirate
Strength

4,000

3,000		 1,500–4,000 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 800–1,200
Casualties and losses
20 killed, 3 captured 120–150 killed Unknown

The Qalamoun offensive (July–August 2017) is a military operation launched by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Syrian Armed Forces against members of Tahrir al-Sham and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on the Lebanon–Syria border.

The offensive

First phase: Clearing of Tahrir al-Sham

The Lebanese group Hezbollah, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Syrian Arab Army launched a major operation on 21 July 2017 to destroy the pockets of HTS and ISIL fighters on the Lebanon-Syria border.[7] During the offensive, the Lebanese Army assumed a defensive position in Arsal.[8]

On 22 July 2017, Hezbollah officials claimed to have recaptured key points near the border, including the strategic hilltop of Dhahr al-Huwa, a former Tahrir al-Sham (al-Nusra Front) base.[9]

On July 23, the Syrian Army captured 36 square miles of terrain on the Syrian side of the border.[10].

On 25 July, Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army announced the complete recapture of Arsal.

On 27 July 2017, a three day ceasefire agreement was reached by Hezbollah with Tahrir al-Sham and Saraya Ahl al-Sham in the Lebanese portion of the Qalamoun Mountains. The agreement called for Tahrir al-Sham forces to withdraw from Lebanon to Idlib, Saraya Ahl al-Sham forces to withdraw to the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, where rebel forces maintain a pocket of control, and exchanges of prisoners from both sides.[11]

On the same day, Hezbollah announced the continuation of further military operations against the ISIL pocket.[12].

Second phase: Offensive against ISIL

On 4 August, Hezbollah commander Hasan Nasrallah announced that the Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah would participate in the recapture of the ISIL pocket on the border of the Syrian-Lebanese border for the first time since 2013.[12] The Lebanese Army announced that it will not coordinate with the Syrian Army during the offensive.[13]

On 5 August, the Lebanese Armed Forces launched artillery attacks on ISIL positions in the area. After a series of intense clashes, the Lebanese Army announced on a day later that their forces captured the sites and gurals on Abu 'Ali and al-Dalel al-'Aqra in the Ras Ba'albak region.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Al Bawaba http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/07/hezbollah-issues-ultimatum-to-militants-in-arsal-battle.php. Retrieved 26 July 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Hezbollah acting alone in Qalamoun: social affairs minister". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. ↑ Jesse Marks (10 August 2017). "Preventing Forced Return in Lebanon and the Greater Levant". The Stimson Center.
  4. 1 2 "US Special Forces operating in Lebanon 'close to Hizballah'". The News Arab. 6 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Joscelyn, Thomas (27 July 2017). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah begin last phase of Qalamoun offensive". Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah begin last phase of Qalamoun offensive. AMN ALl Masdar News. Retrieved 27 July 2017. Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah begin last phase of Qalamoun offensive.
  6. ↑ Ali, Abdullah Suleiman (12 May 2015). "Jabhat al-Nusra launches war against IS in Qalamoun". Translated by Pascale Menassa. al-Monitor. As Safir. Retrieved 12 May 2015. Several areas of West Qalamoun have been witnessing since two days, a fierce wave of raids conducted by Jabhat al-Nusra against IS strongholds and checkpoints, and clashes erupted between both groups [...] As a result of the campaign, dozens of IS members, including leaders and emirs, were arrested. On the first day, about 47 members were detained, according to sources.
  7. ↑ Walsh, Declan (21 July 2017). "Hezbollah and Syrian Army Attack Islamists on Lebanon Border" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ↑ Bassam, Laila; Perry, Tom (21 July 2017). "Hezbollah, Syria army launch offensive at Syrian-Lebanese border". Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Hezbollah makes gains in Syria-Lebanon border assault". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Syrian army captures new area in Qalamoun region - Xinhua - English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com.
  11. ↑ "HTS to leave mountain region along Syria-Lebanon border as part of truce agreement". Syria Direct. 27 July 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Hezbollah and rebels agree ceasefire at Lebanese-Syrian border".
  13. ↑ "No coordination between Lebanon and Syrian armies against IS: Lebanese military source". Reuters. 5 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Breaking: Lebanese Army kicks off Syrian border offensive". 6 August 2017.

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