2014 Al-Safira offensive

The 2014 Al-Safira offensive, code-named "Zaeir al Ahrar” ("The Freemen Roar"), was a short-lived operation launched by Syrian rebels during the Syrian civil war in Aleppo Governorate, in an attempt to attack "three sites of the army which are al-Adnaneyyi, al-Zeraa al-Foqaneyyi and al-Ezraa al-Tahtatnia in order to open a road to attack the Defense Factories where helicopters take off in order to drop barrel bombs onto Aleppo, Idlib and Hama". The defense factories produced the barrel bombs that are dropped onto the city of Aleppo and its countryside.[3]

2014 Al-Safira offensive
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Date 8–12 October 2014 (4 days) Location Al-Safira, Aleppo Governorate, Syria Result Syrian Army victory Territorial changes The Army recaptures all villages by 12 October[1][2] Rebels initially capture seven villages near the Defense Factories[3][4][5]
Belligerents
Islamic Front	Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force
Commanders and leaders
Abu Jaber (Ahrar ash-Sham leader)	Unknown
Units involved
Ahrar ash-Sham[6]	Defense Factories garrison
Casualties and losses
Unknown	23+ killed[3][4] 2 helicopters downed[3]

Rebel offensive

On 8 October, the rebel Ahrar ash-Sham announced the start of a battle called "Zaeir al Ahrar". That day, rebels of this group captured the villages of Qashotah, al Barzaneyyi, Diman, al Zera’ah al Tehtaneyyi and al Zera’ah al Foqaneyyi near the Defense Factories. At least 14 soldiers and 5 rebels were killed, while two helicopters were downed while trying to take off from the Defense Factories.[3]

On 9 October, Army claimed to have conducted a counterattack on rebel forces in Al-Barzaaniyya, Al-Zara’a, Bashkawi, Banaan Al-Hass, Kafr Akkar, and Al-‘Adnaniyya, resulting in the recapture of several of these villages. The Army also claimed that the rebels had refocused their offensive to the Khanasser countryside.[7]

On 10 October, rebels captured the village of Abotbeh, leading to the death of 9 soldiers and losses among the rebels. This village is close to the town of Tal Abour, 2 km away from the Defense Factories.[4] Rebels also captured the village of Sad’ayya overnight,[5] before it was recaptured later that day.[1]

Army counter-attack

On 12 October, the Army launched a counter-attack and regained control over the villages that were captured by the rebels since 8 October.[2]

References

1. "مقتل ما لا يقل عن 8 عناصر من قوات النظام في اشتباكات حندرات". SOHR. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
2. "Regime forces advance in Aleppo countryside and Rebels advance in Aleppo city". Syriahr.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
3. "The violent clashes in the town of al... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
4. "Aleppo Province: Ahraro al Sham Movement... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
5. "Aleppo province: Violent clashes took." Facebook.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
6. "Ahrar al-Sham Islamic movement starts a new battle in Aleppo". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
7. "Syrian Army Captures West Handarat Farms and Babinnis; Ahrar Al-Sham Offensive in Safira is Repelled". almasdarnews. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.